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Governor Iria to know fate during Friday Senate sitting

Iria began his defence against the bid to impeach him on Wednesday after the County Assembly had made its case for passing a vote of impeachment/CFM

Iria began his defence against the bid to impeach him on Wednesday after the County Assembly had made its case for passing a vote of impeachment/CFM

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 5 – The Senate will on Friday hold a special sitting to discuss the report by the special committee on the impeachment of Murang’a County Governor Mwangi wa Iria.

Senate Deputy Speaker Kembi Gitura said all Senate committee meetings or retreats scheduled for Friday had been cancelled to ensure Senators are present in the House.

“The sitting shall be held in the Senate Chamber, main Parliament Buildings, Nairobi commencing at 3pm. The business to be transacted at the sitting shall be the consideration of the report of the Special Committee on the Proposed Removal from Office of the Governor of Murang’a County. In accordance with Standing Orders 29 (5), this shall be the only business on that day and thereafter the Senate shall adjourn to the next sitting day as per the approved calendar,” he said.

The committee chaired by Kitui Senator David Musila’s has been holding public hearings for the last two days where it received submissions in support of or against more than 20 accusations levelled against Governor Iria.

Iria began his defence against the bid to impeach him on Wednesday after the County Assembly had made its case for passing a vote of impeachment.

Iria through his lawyer Ng’ang’a Mbugua linked his impeachment to disagreements over the Ward Development Fund which MCAs were lobbying for.

But the County Assembly legal counsel Mbuthi Gathenji accused the Governor of high-handedness and working alone instead of consulting the leadership of the county including the assembly.

READ: Iria accuses Murang’a County Assembly of malice

The Senate proceeded with the impeachment process after the High Court on Tuesday declined to issue conservatory orders stopping the process.

In his ruling, Justice Joseph Onguto indicated that Iria should not shy away from public scrutiny as due process was followed by the Murang’a County Assembly as outlined in the Constitution.

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READ: Court allows Senate to pursue Iria impeachment

The Murang’a County Assembly, by majority, wants Iria removed from office on the grounds that he’s entered the county into unsustainable debt through excessive expenditure.

Thirty-four out of 49 Murang’a County Assembly members on Wednesday voted in favour of the impeachment motion.

READ: Murang’a MCAs approve impeachment of Governor Iria

The motion presented by nominated MCA Mary Waithira outlined 27 reasons to impeach Iria among them abuse of office charges and misuse of funds.

The MCAs supported the charge that the 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.

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