Willis Otieno: Govt using impeachments as political score-settling tool
By Aloys Michael, September 4, 2025Human rights and Constitutional lawyer Willis Otieno has scoffed at recent impeachment motions against some governors, saying it is a tool used by the ruling coalition to settle political scores.
Speaking in an interview on a local Radio station on Thursday, September 4, 2025, the outspoken lawyer argued that the ouster motions are not genuine efforts to fight against rampant corruption in the government.
“Impeachment has become a tool to settle political scores. The choice of governors facing trial shows clear political targeting within Kenya Kwanza. Even the charges reveal conflicts of interest, I do not believe this is a genuine fight against corruption.
“If you want to catch these governors or people who are stealing the quota should be higher and not the conflict of interest charges.”
Otieno noted that the impeachment does not target all the county bosses, instead it only direct specific governors who have infighting in the devolved units or are opposed to the ruling coalition.
“Some are instigated by Senators who have issues. Look at the choice of governors who are being tried, like Barchok, who has his infights in Bomet, Wangamati has his fights with Wetangula in Bungoma and Natembeya, the same,” he said.
Sakaja
The latest oust trials motion against the Nairobi County Governor was temporarily defused following high-level interventions by President William Ruto and Orange Democratic Movement party leader Raila Odinga.
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Raila held a closed-door meeting with Sakaja and ODM-allied MCAs at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF), during which he persuaded them to suspend their push for impeachment. The discussions were aimed at creating space for dialogue and reconciliation between the Governor and the Assembly.
Nairobi County ODM Chairperson George Aladwa announced that the ODM MCAs had agreed to put the impeachment bid on hold for one month, giving Governor Sakaja time to adjust his leadership approach and mend ties with the Assembly.
Aladwa also revealed that Sakaja acknowledged all the accusations the MCAs levelled and apologised to them during the convene.
“We have deliberated for nearly four hours, and the MCAs have raised all their concerns. Nairobi leadership, as well as the party, has also resolved to drop the impending impeachment to allow us to correct the wrong,” Aladwa said.
The previous trial, misuse of public funds, gross misconduct and abuse of the office were among the charges that topped the list.