Ruling on Wambora's impeachment case to be delivered

Embu Governor Martin Wambora follows his defence hearing at the Court of Appeal in Nyeri on June 24, 2014. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Through his lawyer, Mr Wilfred Nyamu, and Mr Ndegwa Njiru, for the Embu voters, he claimed that the matter raised weighty issues that only a bench could properly give a fair hearing.
  • The two claimed that the impeachment process had been an implementation of a political process and therefore conflicted with the County Government Act.

A ruling on the court case of Embu Governor Martin Wambora’s impeachment is set to be delivered on Thursday by High Court Judge George Odunga.

The governor, who had a hard time last year battling against efforts by MCAs to remove him from office, was reinstated for a second time by Principle Judge Richard Mwongo on May 15, 2014.

The county assembly twice resolved to oust him, on February 14 and later on May 13.

He has been accused of flouting the County Government Act by appointing public servants without the assembly's approval.

He is also accused of flouting procurement rules in the purchase of Sh35 million worth of maize seeds that never germinated, procurement of vehicles and authorisation to renovate Embu Stadium at a cost of Sh50 million, up from Sh8 million.

TEMPORARY STOP

His suit was joined with another petition signed by more than 30 voters from Embu and had prompted Justice Mwongo to issue a temporary stop to the swearing in of Deputy Governor Dorothy Nditi or the making of any plans to replace Mr Wambora until the case is completed.

Through his lawyer, Mr Wilfred Nyamu, and Mr Ndegwa Njiru, representing the Embu voters, he claimed that the matter raised weighty issues that only a bench could properly give a fair hearing.

The two claimed that the impeachment process had been an implementation of a political process and therefore conflicted with the County Government Act.

They had also argued that the conflict granted the Senate the mandate to act with bias.

Both Mr Wambora and the Embu voters wanted this alleged Senate’s bias to be determined by the bench, comprising justices Mwongo, Weldon Korir and Odunga.