Senate urged to dismiss Kibwana's impeachment

Senators have been asked to dismiss the impeachment of Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana.

A section of leaders Monday said the reasons for the ouster by the county assembly members did not meet the threshold for unseating a governor and would set a bad precedent if the petition was entertained by the lawmakers.

The Senate returns from recess on Tuesday and is expected to form a committee to investigate the impeachment before tabling a report in the House.

The senators have vowed to ignore a court order obtained by Prof Kibwana stopping them from entertaining the request from the Makueni County Assembly, arguing that the Judiciary was intruding in their space.

BASELESS ACCUSATIONS

Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka said it would be unfortunate if the Senate allowed the ouster as the allegations against the governor were baseless and did not meet the threshold for removing the county boss.

“It will be a mockery of our Parliament if such a petition is entertained. For our governors to have time to work, the threshold for impeachment must be higher than it is now. Voters must be involved,” said Mr Musyoka.

Ukambani governors Alfred Mutua (Machakos) and Julius Malombe (Kitui) on Monday took their joint rallies to Makueni where they challenged MPs to stick to their constitutional mandate of overseeing the national government.

The two, stayed away from Mashujaa Day celebrations and instead attended the inauguration of a Model Early Childhood Education Centre at Yikisemei Primary School in Kibwezi West at the invitation of Prof Kibwana.

Dr Mutua and Dr Malombe were in Makueni to show solidarity with Prof Kibwana, who was impeached two weeks ago by his county assembly.

They accused area MPs of inciting their respective assembly members against the county bosses, saying that it amounted to overstepping their mandate of law-making at national level.