The Senate Committee has kicked off a series of hearings and investigations into the proposed removal of Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru – By Gerald Gekara
Led by Kakamega Senator Cleopas Malala, the 11 member committee emphasized that it will accordingly hear both sides of the argument, despite public mistrust over the handling of the matter.
”As the Honourable Speaker observed in his Communication to the Senate made on Tuesday, 16th June, the hearing of charges for the proposed removal from office of a Governor is one of the most important functions of the Senate under the Constitution. The Special Committee wishes to emphasize that it is cognizant of the gravity of the matter with which it is seized and that it has accorded all parties to the proceedings the right to be heard and shall accord the parties a fair hearing.” Said Senator Malala.
In Tuesday’s session, the Kirinyaga County Assembly team was represented by High Court advocate Ndegwa Njiru.
The legal team presented a series of instances in which they wished to fault the governor, while tabling their charges including the abuse of office and illegal awarding of tenders to individuals close to the governor.
Governor Anne Waiguru dismissed the impeachment, citing the allegations as malicious, full of innuendos meant to embarrass her and destabilize county operations.
She cited the move to have the Senate go through a ‘time-wasting’ impeachment was uncalled for, and urged the comittee to wholly rely on the evidence and defense placed before them.
The impeachment motion of Governor Anne Waiguru was tabled on March 31 by Mutira MCA David Kinyua Wangui. The MCA accused Waiguru of abuse of office, gross misconduct, and manipulating the public procurement procedures.
After a successful presentation of an impeachment motion, an 11 member Senate committee was formed to investigate her ordeal.
The committee will investigate and adopt the Report on Thursday, before tabling its report at the Sitting of the Senate on Friday.
If the committee finds that the governor has no case to answer, her impeachment motion ‘dies a natural death’.
