The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has confirmed receipt of the petition seeking to dissolve Taita Taveta County, it has emerged.
The commission says it will take a period of five days to establish the authenticity of the signatures as per the law before giving the way forward.
Governor Granton Samboja initiated the people-driven initiative to disband the county following his disagreement with MCAs over resource allocation.
Last week, Samboja survived an impeachment after the Senate dismissed resolutions by the county assembly of Taita Taveta which led to his impeachment.
A report tabled by the Senate committee, which was chaired by Njeru Ndwiga (Embu), found that the particulars of the allegations against the governor did not meet the threshold for impeachment.
“The committee, having investigated the matter in accordance with its mandate under Section 33(4) of the County Government Act and Standing Order 75(2) of the Senate Standing Order, reports to the Senate that it finds none of the particulars of the allegations against the governor were proved or substantiated,” reads the report.
The county's Communication Director Dennis Onsarigo had warned MCAs about the bureaucratic procedure in the impeachment of the governor.
“The road to impeaching a governor is long and winding, it is the one that Samboja is willing to take to the end," Samboja said through the County Communications Director Denis Onsarigo who told the Star.
Should the IEBC verify all the signatures, this means that Samboja can now go ahead and table the petition before the President for consideration.
The president, if satisfied with the issues raised, will now go ahead and form a tribunal that will investigate the matter and give recommendations.