Senate to meet on Tuesday over Wambora case
Embu County Governor Martin Wambora acknowledges greetings from Embu residents shortly after addressing the press on the recent motion by Embu county assembly to impeach him. Senators are to meet on February 4, 2014 in a special sitting that will kick off the process to determine the fate of the Embu governor. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- The County Governments Act requires that Mr Ethuro convene a Senate meeting to hear the charges seven days after receipt of the notice. The seven days lapse on Thursday
- Mr Wambora’s case comes at a time of suspicion between senators and governors. The county bosses have accused senators of interfering with their work, especially after the introduction of a contentious Bill that, once passed, will see senators steer development in their counties
- The controversy over whether governors should appear before the Senate to answer questions on their counties has poisoned their relations further
Senators are to meet on Tuesday in a special sitting that will kick off the process to determine the fate of Embu Governor Martin Nyaga Wambora.
The Senate House Business Committee that sets its agenda met on Friday and resolved to recall senators to agree on how they will proceed with the case of the TNA governor who was impeached by his county assembly.
Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro called the committee after he received the resolution to impeach Mr Wambora from the Embu County Assembly Speaker Kariuki Mate on Thursday.
The County Governments Act requires that Mr Ethuro convene a Senate meeting to hear the charges seven days after receipt of the notice. The seven days lapse on Thursday.
Speaker Ethuro had to cancel a one-week trip to the US Senate in Washington DC, where a group of senators and the House leadership have travelled, in order to address the Wambora issue. “For us, we think it is a very critical matter being the first of its kind. It is of great public interest which will be watched keenly,’’ said Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki.
HEAR CHARGES
When they sit on Tuesday, senators will have to look at two options in determining the charges.
The House can decide to convert itself into a committee to hear the charges against the governor or agree to pick a team of 11 senators to investigate the matter and report back to the House in 10 days.
A number of senators indicate the legislators are likely to settle for a special committee. Mr Wambora will have the right to appear before the Senate to defend himself.
Mr Wambora’s case comes at a time of suspicion between senators and governors. The county bosses have accused senators of interfering with their work, especially after the introduction of a contentious Bill that, once passed, will see senators steer development in their counties.
The County Governments (Amendment) Bill, 2013, which is sponsored by Nandi Senator Stephen Sang, creates a County Development Board to be chaired by the senator.
The County Women Representative, elected MPs in the constituency, County Assembly Speaker, chairperson of the county public service board, the chairmen of the county assembly committees in charge of planning, finance, and budget and the representative of the national government in charge of planning will be in the board.
The governor will be the secretary of the development board, and his deputy a member.
PISONED RELATIONS
The controversy over whether governors should appear before the Senate to answer questions on their counties has poisoned their relations further.
But Prof Kindiki cautions against any leader looking at the Wambora case in the context of the relationship between the two.
“We do not want the issue over-politicised. We assure the people of Kenya that the Senate is conscious of its responsibility to play the oversight role in the devolved units. We also need to send a message that the Senate operates within the rule of law," said the House majority leader.
