Wambora ouster probe starts

The Senate committee investigating the impeachment of Embu Governor Martin Wambora is scheduled to start its hearings in Nairobi Monday.

Clerk of the Senate Jeremiah Nyegenye Sunday evening told the Nation that the venue had been moved from County Hall to KICC “to accommodate the public.”

“Everybody is expected; the County Assembly, the governor and the deputy governor. They are coming with their advocates,” said Mr Nyegenye.

Monday’s meeting marks the start of the process that could end with either the committee agreeing with the County Assembly to have Mr Wambora and his deputy Dorothy Nditi removed or rejecting their decision.

Mr Nyegenye said “no comment” when asked whether the committee would comply with the three High Court orders Mr Wambora is armed with stopping the House from proceeding with the hearings.

Senior Counsel Paul Muite told the Nation the Senate has no choice but to stop proceedings until the matters in court are stopped.

“Those leading in the disobedience of court orders are preparing the grounds for their removal from office on the application of any Kenyan in terms of Chapter Six of the Constitution for the simple reason that any State official who cannot obey a court order ipso facto violates Chapter Six,” said Mr Muite.

He said Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro and Embu County Speaker Kariuki Mate would in this case be held responsible for failing to comply with the court order.

DRAMA AND INTRIGUE

For Mr Wambora, the hearings at the Senate are the culmination of nearly a month of drama and intrigue.

In the week after the County Assembly voted to impeach him, details of the behind-the-scenes manoeuvres that characterised the events before that have emerged.

There was a contentious trip to the Coast by the County Assembly members, a deadlock that involved a member who had the swing vote being unwell and eventually, desperate calls to TNA.

A week before the motion was debated, both the Executive and the Legislature in Embu were locked in a deep stalemate and attempts to hold dialogue spearheaded by the religious and political leaders from the county had failed.

Local leaders were concerned that the motions were being introduced out of emotion after Mr Wambora took sides with county secretary Margaret Lorna Kariuki, whom the assembly wanted to step aside for failure to explain how two multi-million contracts were tendered.