Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has dismissed growing calls by a section of Kenyans to impeach President William Ruto, outlining what she described as the legal and political hurdles that make such a move highly unlikely.
In a statement, Maina questioned whether Parliament has the numbers or the political will required to initiate and sustain an impeachment process under Article 145 of the Constitution.
Her remarks come amid rising online activism, particularly among young Kenyans, pushing for accountability through constitutional means.
Maina argued that the first barrier lies in the threshold needed to table an impeachment motion in the National Assembly.
According to her, at least one-third of Members of the National Assembly—about 116 MPs—must support the motion before it is even introduced.
“Can you list even 50 MPs who would sign such a motion?” she posed, suggesting that reaching the required numbers is “impossible in every rational sense.”
She further noted that even if the numbers were secured, the Speaker of the National Assembly retains significant discretion over which motions are admitted for debate.
This, she said, adds another layer of complexity that critics of the government may be overlooking.
Beyond tabling the motion, Maina highlighted the higher threshold required for the process to proceed.
An impeachment would need the support of at least two-thirds of MPs—approximately 233 lawmakers—to pass in the National Assembly before moving to the Senate.
“You can’t even list 50, yet you expect 233 to support such a motion,” she said, describing the push as unrealistic.
While acknowledging public frustration, the legislator urged Kenyans to adopt what she termed a more practical approach to political change.
She called on citizens to focus on voter registration, civic education, and participation in the 2027 General Election.
Maina also addressed the role of protests, particularly those led by Gen Z activists in recent months.
She maintained that while the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, leaders must exercise caution in encouraging demonstrations.
“I would not want to bear the responsibility of a young person dying on the streets because I encouraged protests,” she said, adding that she has supported affected youth through legal aid and bail funds.
In her conclusion, Maina described the impeachment debate as “populist noise,” urging Kenyans to channel their energy into structured democratic processes rather than what she termed “a Sisyphean task.”