Wajir Governor delegated duties to wife, Senate told – KBC

The impeachment trial of Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud by an 11-member Senate Committee kicked off Wednesday with the County Assembly presenting charges against the county boss.

The county assembly which has lined up four witnesses presented evidence substantiating the allegations of gross violation of the Constitution and subsidiary laws as well as abuse of office and gross misconduct by the impeached governor.

The governor’s legal team led by lawyer Paul Nyamodi poked holes into evidence adduced by the county assembly saying the charges against the governor cannot stand the scrutiny and threshold required for the impeachment of a governor.

Tula Tula ward MCA Abdullahi Issack Mohammed was the first witness to take the stand.

In his testimony before the Okong’o Omogeni led committee, Mohammed demonstrated how the embattled Governor misappropriated county funds and violated procurement laws where millions of county funds were allegedly paid for goods not supplied.

According to the witness, the embattled governor has delegated his duties to his wife whom he claimed chairs meetings and makes key decisions on his behalf.

Mohammed was however hard-pressed during cross-examination by the lead counsel of governor Mohamud, lawyer Paul Nyamodi who sought evidence to justify claims made by the witness.

LIVE: #Senate Impeachment of Wajir Governor Mohammed Mohamud https://t.co/ftsHGySNnG

— KBC Channel1 News (@KBCChannel1) May 12, 2021

The Senate committee had earlier dismissed the request by the county assembly to summon the Governor’s wife and two children.

The Senate committee ruled that there were no sufficient grounds to compel them to appear.

The special committee chaired by Okong’o Omogeni is expected to table its findings before the Senate on Monday next week.

The hearing continues tomorrow (Thursday).