The Nyeri Governor will now be invited to defend himself in front of the 67 Senators of allegation of abuse of office, gross violation of the Constitution in procurement and corruption/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 7 – The Senate has rejected a Motion to establish an 11-member special committee to look into allegations levelled against Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua by the Nyeri County Assembly.
This is after 18 of the 25 Senators present in the House voted against the Motion presented by the Senate Leaders Kithure Kindiki and Moses Wetang’ula to give the special team 10 days to probe Gachagua’s impeachment following a vote by 32 out of 46 MCAs.
Senate Majority Leader Kindiki called on colleagues from the National Assembly to keep off the process to limit interference.
“The rights of all parties, including the rights of the accused, including those who are bringing the charges -including in this case the County Assembly – will be upheld because the Senate is not a lynch mob,” he said.
This came a day after Nyeri County MPs teamed up with MCAs saying the grounds laid out in the impeachment motion were serious and weighty and Senate should hear the plea of the people of Nyeri and send the Governor packing.
Senate Minority Leader Wetang’ula urged members ‘to act without fear, favour or prejudice in the matter of the impeachment.’
“We are here because we are stronger than problems and we can solve them. I assure the country that this Senate is not vindictive and will act based on facts,” he said.
Senators George Khaniri, Mutula Kilonzo Junior and Boni Khalwale led the front for the rejection saying the Senators should be allowed to consider the matter in plenary as committee members can be easily compromised.
“We want Kenyans and the people of Nyeri at large to follow the debate because we believe it will be aired live both on television and radio,” said Khaniri.
“I want to appeal to the Judiciary to come to the reality that an impeachment process once a decision is made by the Senate, it is done with finality.”
“In interrogating individuals who are going to come before the Plenary, we must ensure that it does not look like, we are lynching anybody with the view of the many numbers who will be carrying out the investigations,”
Speaker Ekwee Ethuro said he will give the way forward during Thursday’s sitting.
The Nyeri Governor will now be invited to defend himself in front of the 67 Senators of allegation of abuse of office, gross violation of the Constitution in procurement and corruption.
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