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Babu Owino intends to file notice of motion to impeach Health CS Susan Nakhumicha

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino at a past event. (X/Babu Owino)

By Eastleigh Voice Reporter | Wednesday, April 3, 2024

The Embakasi East MP seeks to table the removal of CS Nakhumicha once the House recess ends.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly about his intention to initiate an impeachment motion against Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha.

In a notice motion which is yet to be tabled before parliament, the ODM MP wants to edge out the CS for failing to avert the doctor’s strike entering the third week on Thursday, affecting millions of Kenyans

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Owino cited CS Nakhumicha’s failure to appreciate the seriousness of the strike by failing to honour the doctors’ Collective Bargaining Agreement and instead resorted to threatening doctors.

“The above grounds are based on the following particulars: As a result of the doctors’ strike, a majority of Kenyans right to life, as well as the right to the highest attainable standard of health, has been grossly violated,” he said.

The letter, dated April 3, 2024, was addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Samuel Njoroge.

The Embakasi East MP seeks to table the removal of CS Nakhumicha once the House recess ends.

The MP claimed that the CS had failed to appreciate the seriousness of the strike and also failed to provide a lasting solution to settle the demands of the medics, including the hiring of interns and trainee doctors and payment of salary arrears.

“Since the strike began on March 15, 2024, scores of Kenyans have been unable to access medical care, and in some dire cases, some have even lost their lives,” reads the notice of motion.

The Constitution provides for the removal of a Cabinet Secretary under Article 152. The mover of the motion is required to file evidence alongside a list of legislators in support of the bid.

The Speaker of the National Assembly considers the threshold of evidence presented before clearing the matter for tabling.

In his case, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula’s clearance would pave the way for a 7-day notice, with the mover moving the motion within fourteen days.

The House will then set up a Select Committee upon ascertaining support from a third of its membership.

The Select Committee will be required to probe the allegations and submit its findings to the House within ten days.

Where the Select Committee finds ground for removal, the Cabinet Secretary will appear in the National Assembly for a trial.

The matter will then be settled by a majority vote with the Speaker transmitting the House resolution to the President for action.