Kidero says there is concern that the impeachment was done despite a court order/FILE
Speaking to reporters at City Hall on Monday, Kidero said that the move by Senators to ratify the impeachment despite a court order went against the principle of separation of powers.
He further indicated that the manner in which the proceedings were undertaken was questionable and pointed out that it will form part of discussions when Governors hold an urgent meeting on Tuesday.
“There is a conflict between the Judiciary and the Legislature and that is why the Chief Justice has put up a three-judge bench to look into the injunction which should have been obeyed,” he said.
Last Friday, the Senate impeached Wambora but spared his Deputy, Dorothy Nditi, who has since taken over as Embu Governor.
“I was elected by the people of Nairobi and I am carrying out my mandate as you can see,” Kidero stated while reacting to a question about whether he was worried that he might be targeted.
Thirty-nine Senators voted to impeach Wambora after he was found to have violated the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, the Public Finance Management Act and the Constitution.
The charges were in respect to procurement of 16 tonnes of maize seeds at Sh3.52million, which were condemned and thus failed to germinate, and another tender for refurbishment of Embu Stadium at Sh8million.
Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti abstained from the historic vote as Baringo Senator Gideon Moi voted ‘no’ on all counts.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale who led the Senate Special Committee that probed the two found that the embattled Governor violated the Public Procurement and Disposal Act 2005 (PPDA) and PPDA Regulations 2013, the Public Finance and Management Act and the Constitution.
The Senate team said the Governor repeatedly argued that he would never involved himself in matters of procurement which should be an entirely different thing from taking action to deal with those responsible for procurement malpractices.
The report stated that the Governor gave the impression that he had totally removed himself from the controversies surrounding the works of the Embu stadium and defective maize seeds, leaving the matters primarily to the County Secretary, if not to no one in particular.
The charges of abuse of office and violation of the County Governments Act 2012 made against the Embu Governor were however found not to have been substantiated.
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