Wambora: You got the wrong man

Embattled Embu Governor Martin Wambora on Monday fought his ouster with an emotional it-wasn’t-me speech.

Mr Wambora told the Senate committee investigating his impeachment that he was innocent of all charges filed by the County Assembly, and that he was the wrong person in the dock.

This was after Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye read five accusations against him. They included violation of the Constitution, abuse of office, violation of the Public Finance Management Act and Procurement and Disposal Act, and breach of County Government Act.

The Embu County Assembly impeached Mr Wambora two weeks ago, and the Senate team started its hearings after ignoring a High Court stopping the same.

Mr Wambora started by defending his morality and integrity as a public servant.

WAMBORA'S STATEMENT

“This is the same Wambora who used to account for each cent given to him by President (Daniel) Arap Moi,” he said.

“I am a spiritual man. I started as an altar boy during the holy masses on Sundays. I have been a devoted seminarian. I almost became a priest.”

He also informed the 11-member committee led by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale that he worked for the government for 24 years without an eyebrow being raised on his integrity.

“My values are still intact. I have been a law abiding civil servant for 25 years. I have worked at the ministry of Finance and was in charge of billions and billions of security funds. In all those years I have never been summoned by the Public Accounts Committee,” he said.

Mr Wambora was represented by lawyers Wilfred Nyamu and Peter Wanyama as Charles Njenga and George Mbugua acted for the assembly.

The lawyers gave opening statements to lay ground for the three-day public hearings at KICC in Nairobi.

NO NOTICE

“The governor was not served with the impeachment notice. He was basically oblivious of the allegations made against him,” said Mr Nyamu.

“The governor has no role under either the Public Finance Management Act or the procurement law. We are going to show that he has no role whether acted or imagined in respect to allegations made by the County Assembly.”

He defended Mr Wambora against any wrongdoing saying, “There is a county public service board that works independent of the governor.”

Lawyers for the assembly fought the submission that Mr Wambora had no role to play in procurement and accused him of procuring maize seeds that did not germinate.

They said the governor had not appointed a tender committee as required by the procurement law.

“There is no tender committee to evaluate tenders. Where are the specific members of this committee purported to have overseen tenders? We will show this committee that there is no single letter appointing any member of the purported committee,” said Mr Njenga.

The hearing continues today.