The motion presented by nominated MCA Mary Waithira-Wamauwa was approved by 34 members while 15 voted against it, as confirmed by the Speaker Nduati Kariuki.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 21 – Members of the Murang’a County Assembly have approved an impeachment motion against Governor Mwangi wa Iria.
The motion presented by nominated MCA Mary Waithira-Wamauwa was approved by 34 members while 15 voted against it, as confirmed by the Speaker Nduati Kariuki.
“The authenticated scores are ayes 34, the threshold for this motion to pass is 34, so the motion has been carried,” said the Speaker amid cheers from the MCAs who in the past week launched a veiled attack against Governor Iria.
Waithira outlined 27 reasons to impeach Iria among them abuse of office charges and misuse of funds.
“I rise to move this motion on the following grounds: lack of accountability for the use of county resources by incurring unsustainable debts to the tune of Sh2.5 billion,” she said.
They say Governor Iria had violated the Constitution by allegedly flouting provisions on procurement and management of public funds and that despite setting ceilings to regulate expenditure by the Executive, they had been disregarded.
They cited recommendations in the Auditor General’s report which had raised questions over some Sh28 million in the controversial Murang’a Investment Co-operative Society known as ‘Shilingi Kwa Shilingi’.
They further accused Governor Iria of stifling operations in the County Assembly by withholding their funds.
Speaker Kariuki is now expected to write to the Senate which will form a special committee to review the impeachment report and whether the threshold was met to hound Governor Iria out of office.
The Special Committee is within 10 days expected to present a report either recommending that Senators support the assembly’s decision to impeach him or the Senate rejects the decision.
If the Senate does not feel it meets the threshold and Iria remains in office, the Speaker of the Senate is required to inform the County Assembly Speaker.
If the Assembly is not satisfied with the Senate’s decision, debate on the impeachment can only be re-introduced after three months.
Embu and Kericho County Assemblies have unsuccessfully attempted to remove their Governors from office.
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