Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru was on Tuesday, June 23, forced to undergo a humiliating half-hour period as the special Senate Committee commenced the hearing on her impeachment.
The Chair of the Committee Senator Cleophas Malala ordered the governor to stand in silence as various charges against her were read, as is protocol during hearings.
However, the charge list was so long that it took over 30 minutes to be read out in its entirety.
Governor Waiguru could do nothing but stand in silence while occasionally casting a menacing look as the accusations were voiced out one after the other in the full glare of the media that had been granted access to the House to broadcast the hearing across Kenya.
The charges against the Kirinyaga County Governor, as per the Motion passed by the Kirinyaga County Assembly include Gross Violation of the Constitution & Abuse of Office and Gross Misconduct.
Senator Malala made it clear that the committee would give room for all parties to voice their arguments before any determination was made.
“The Special Committee wishes to emphasize that it is cognizant of the gravity of the matter with which it is seized and that it has accorded all parties to the proceedings the right to be heard and shall accord the parties a fair hearing.
“As the Hon Speaker observed in his Communication to the Senate made on Tuesday, 16th June, the hearing of charges for the proposed removal from office of a Governor is one of the most important functions of the Senate under the Constitution,” Senator Malala reiterated.
On her part, the embattled Kirinyaga Governor caused quite a stir on Saturday, June 20, when she delivered mountains of evidence to the Senate for her impeachment defense.
“Today at about 4:20 pm I filed responses to the impeachment motion with substantive responses to each of the allegations leveled against me,” she tweeted and posted photos of the stacks of files.
“I have full confidence in my legal team and believe my response is sound. Let’s allow the Senate to do its work. I have confidence in the rule of law and believe that Truth and Justice will be our shield and defender,” she added.
Waiguru explained that she had full confidence in her legal team and believed her response was sound.
“I have confidence in the rule of law and believe that Truth and Justice will be our shield and defender,” she added.
Members of the Kirinyaga County Assembly who voted overwhelmingly to impeach Waiguru had appealed to the Senate not to frustrate the process.
