Senate begins Martin Wambora impeachment hearings
Senators during past proceedings. The Senate has put the intelligence agency on the spot after it bought 400 acres of land in Kitui for as little as Sh7,000. FILE PHOTO |
What you need to know:
- Mr Wambora on February 3 obtained orders barring the Senate from commencing impeachment proceedings against him
- On January 28, the Embu County Assembly became the first to pass a motion impeaching its governor and his deputy over allegations of corruption and abuse of office
A Senate committee on Monday began hearings on the impeachment of Embu Governor Martin Wambora at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.
Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye had on Sunday declined to 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.
Mr Wambora on February 3 obtained orders barring the Senate from commencing impeachment proceedings against him. (READ: Wambora gets court order to block impeachment proceedings)
Senior Counsel Paul Muite had told the Nation the Senate had no choice but to stop proceedings until the matters in court are stopped, adding that 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.
“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 in an earlier interview. (READ: Wambora ouster probe starts)
ASSEMBLY MAKES HISTORY
On January 28, the Embu County Assembly became the first to pass a motion impeaching its governor and his deputy over allegations of corruption and abuse of office, with 22 members voting in favour of the motion to impeach Mr Wambora and his deputy, Ms Dorothy Nditi, despite a court order barring them from debating the motion until February 5. Three others voted against it. Eight — considered to be Mr Wambora supporters — walked out in protest. The assembly has 33 members.
The two motions filed by Deputy Speaker Ibrahim Swaleh and Nthawa Ward representative Ngare Makenge garnered more than the two thirds majority required by the Constitution.
Under the County Government Act, a Senate committee, after discussing the issue ,will table its report for debate. If the report is supported by at least 24 elected senators, then the governor and his deputy will be sent packing. (READ: Embu governor impeached over graft)
