UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI SCHOOL OF LAW MASTER OF LAWS 2017/2018 ACADEMIC YEAR IMPEACHMENT IN THE KENYAN LEGAL CONTEXT SELINA NELIMA MUCHUNGI G62/7249/2017 SUPERVISOR DR. KEN OBURA A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Laws (LLM) of the University of Nairobi 2018 i DECLARATION I, SELINA NELIMA MUCHUNGI declare that this thesis which I submit for the Master of Laws Degree at the University of Nairobi Law School is my original work and has not previously been submitted at another University. Signature………………………… Date ……………………………….. SELINA NELIMA MUCHUNGI This thesis has been submitted with my approval as the University of Nairobi Supervisor. Signature………………………Date…………………………. DR. KEN OBURA UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI SCHOOL OF LAW ii DEDICATION I wish to dedicate this work to my family; my husband Kevin Kakai for his endless support, understanding and selflessness and my daughter Hadassah Kakai for her love, understanding and endurance during this study. You will always be remembered. I would also like to dedicate the work to my mother, Ruth Muchungi for her encouragement and prayers and for offering her leadership throughout my school life. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to acknowledge and thank Dr. Ken Obura, my supervisor, for his wise counsel, encouragement and for persevering with me throughout the entire period of the research. He made it possible for me to complete my degree within the shortest period of time by believing in my work and perfecting it. I would also like to acknowledge my larger family, my siblings especially my brothers Isaac and Dan Muchungi and my friends for being a source of encouragement whenever I needed it. iv TABLE OF CASES Martin Nyaga Wambora & 3 others v Speaker of the Senate & 6 others [2014] e KLR Martin Wambora & 4 others v Speaker of the Senate and 4 others; petition No. 3 of 2014 County Assembly of Kisumu & 2 others v Kisumu County Assembly Service Board & 6 others [2015] e KLR Mwangi Wa Iria & 2 others v Speaker Murang’a County Assembly & 3 others, [2015] e KLR Martin Nyaga Wambora & 33 Others -v- County Assembly of Embu & 4 others HCCP No. 7 of 2014 [2015] e KLR Martin Nyaga Wambora & 4 others v Speaker of the Senate & 6 others [2014] e KLR Stephen Nendela V County Assembly of Bungoma & 4 Others [2014] e KLR County Assembly of Bungoma & 2 others v Stephen Nendela & 2 others [2017] e KLR Amina Rashid Masoud v Governor Lamu County & 3 others [2016] e KLR Hon. Muyiwa Inakoju & Others v Hon Abraham Adeolu Adeleke and 3 others; S.C. 272/2006 Case on the impeachment of the President (Park Geun-hye); Case No. 2016Hun-Na1, KCCR v TABLE OF STATUTES The Constitution of Kenya, 1963 The Constitution of Kenya, 2010 The County Governments Act, 2016 The Elections Act, 2011 The Constitution of United States of America, 1789 The Constitution of Brazil, 1988 The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 Rules of Procedure and Practice in the Senate When Sitting on Impeachment Trials The Constitution of the Republic of Korea, 1988 The Constitutional Court Act (Korea), 1988 BILLS The Impeachment Procedure Bill, 2016 vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS KANU Kenya African National Union MCA Member of the County Assembly UK United Kingdom US United States CGA County Government Act MP Member of Parliament VP Vice President vii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ....................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION .......................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ....................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CASES ................................................................................................................... v TABLE OF STATUTES .......................................................................................................... vi BILLS ........................................................................................................................................ vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................. vii ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................. xii CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................ 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 1 1.0 Background ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Statement of The Problem ..................................................................................................... 7 1.2 Statement of Objectives ........................................................................................................ 8 1.3 Research Questions ............................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Hypothesis ............................................................................................................................. 8 1.5 Justification of The Study ..................................................................................................... 9 1.6 Literature Review ................................................................................................................ 10 1.7 Research Methodology ........................................................................................................ 13 1.8 Theoretical Framework ....................................................................................................... 14 1.8.1 Legal Positivism Theory ........................................................................................... 14 1.8.2 Legal Realism Theory ............................................................................................... 15 1.8.3 Natural Law Theory .................................................................................................. 16 1.9 Limitations .......................................................................................................................... 16 1.10 Chapter Breakdown ........................................................................................................... 17 CHAPTER TWO..................................................................................................................... 18 KENYAN LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON IMPEACHMENT AND CHALLENGES ........ 18 2.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 18 2.1 The Constitution of Kenya, 2010 ........................................................................................ 18 2.1.1 Provision on Impeachment of the President .............................................................. 18 2.1.2 Provision on Impeachment of Governors .................................................................. 19 viii 2.2 The County Government Act, 2012 .................................................................................... 20 2.2.1 Provision on Impeachment of Governors .................................................................. 20 2.3 Actors involved in Impeachment Process ........................................................................... 21 2.3.1 House of Assembly ................................................................................................... 21 2.3.2 Senate ........................................................................................................................ 21 2.3.3 Courts ........................................................................................................................ 22 2.4 Challenges in Implementation of the Laws on Impeachment ............................................. 23 2.4.1 Lack of objectivity ..................................................................................................... 23 2.4.2 Misunderstanding the role of impeachment .............................................................. 25 2.4.3 Confusion on the Constitutional standards for impeachable offences ...................... 26 2.4.4 The dilemma of similar outcomes (déjà vu) .............................................................. 29 2.4.5 Corruption and Partisanship ...................................................................................... 30 2.4.6 Fair Procedure ........................................................................................................... 30 2.4.7 Disregard for public participation in the impeachment process ................................ 33 2.4.8 Delays ........................................................................................................................ 34 2.4.9 Competence of House and Senate members ............................................................. 34 2.4.10 Frequency ................................................................................................................ 36 2.4.11 Chaotic proceedings ................................................................................................ 36 2.5 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................