Speaker Benson Mutura to Take Over as Acting Nairobi Governor Following Sonko's Ouster

Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Benson Mutura is set to be sworn in as the acting Nairobi Governor. 

This is after the Senate on Thursday upheld the impeachment of Mike Mbuvi Sonko as the Nairobi Governor. 

27 Senators voted in support of Sonko’s ouster, 16 voted against, while two abstained.

Sonko was impeached on four charges namely; gross violation of the Constitution and other laws, abuse of office, the commission of crimes under the national laws, and lacking the mental capacity to run the county government.

“The effect of the vote is that pursuant to Article 181 of the Constitution Section 33 of the County Government Act and Standing Order No. 75 of the Senate Standing Orders, Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko of Nairobi City County stands impeached,” Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka announced.

Sonko’s impeachment case was heard by the Senate plenary on Wednesday and Thursday where he denied all the charges leveled against him.

Sonko was impeached by members of the Nairobi County Assembly (MCAs) on December 3rd. 88 out of 122 MCAs voted in favor of the impeachment motion tabled by Michael Ogada while two voted against it.

Since Nairobi does not have a deputy governor, the county assembly speaker will take over in an acting capacity until a new governor is elected within 60 days. 

Sonko becomes the second governor in the country to be removed from office after former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu was similarly impeached in January this year.