Mohammed Nyaoga team urges suspension of Makueni
President Uhuru Kenyatta on September 3, 2015 receives the report of a commission of inquiry that looked into the petition calling for the suspension of the Makueni County government. PHOTO | PSCU
What you need to know:
Last year, a section of the county residents wrote to President Kenyatta complaining that their government had spent too much time wrangling at the expense of development.
By appending signatures, the more than 50,000 residents said they wanted their government suspended, and fresh elections ordered.
In May, the six-member commission started investigating the issues raised in the petition in sittings that started in Nairobi, concentrated in Wote Town, and ended in Nairobi.
At the commission’s hearings, some of the issues that emerged poignantly were misuse of public funds and fighting between the executive and the county assembly.
Makueni could be headed to the polls after the commission looking into a petition against the county government recommended its suspension.
In a report handed to President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday, the commission, led by Mr Mohammed Nyaoga, unearthed “exceptional circumstances” warranting the suspension.
Mr Nyaoga told Nation.co.ke that he is not allowed by law to divulge information in the report as the President must first act on its findings and recommendations.
Last year, some Makueni residents wrote to President Kenyatta complaining that their government had spent too much time wrangling at the expense of development.
By appending signatures, the more than 50,000 residents said they wanted their government suspended and fresh elections ordered.
VERDICT OUT
In May, the six-member commission started investigating the issues raised in the petition in sittings that started in Nairobi, concentrated in Wote Town, and ended in Nairobi.
At the commission’s hearings, some of the issues that featured prominently were misuse of public funds and fighting between the executive and the county assembly.
“It is only in Makueni where assembly members feel that they are not part of the county government,” Mr Nyaoga told Nation.co.ke in May.
With the commission’s verdict out, the fate of the county government now lies with senators, who will interrogate the issues at hand and vote to on whether to suspend the county leadership.
The President has seven days to act on the commission’s report, and forward it to Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro.
SENATE TO RULE
According to Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr, after the Senate receives the report, it will have seven days to move a motion to adopt or reject the report.
If senators agree with the commission’s report, Mr Kenyatta will suspend the county government, sending home the governor, the deputy governor, the county assembly and the executive.
In the interim, the President will form a county management board that will oversee the affairs of the devolved unit for 90 days.
After the expiry of the 90 days, the county stands dissolved to pave the way for fresh elections.
