Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru faces impeachment

A Member of the Kirinyaga County Assembly is seeking to have Governor Anne Waiguru removed from office.

Mutira MCA Kinyua Wangui is readying the motion on grounds of what she terms as gross violation of the Constitution, abuse of office and gross misconduct.

The notice of the motion was signed by the county assembly speaker on Monday evening awaiting the official filing.

“The County assembly NOW resolves to remove Hon. Anne Mumbi (herein referred to as the County Governor) from the office of the county governor of Kirinyaga, pursuant to Article 181 (1) (a) & (c) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, Section 33 of the County Governments Act, 2012 and the County Assembly Standing Order. No 58,” the motion reads.

According to Ms. Wangui, the governor has deliberately refused, failed and/or neglected to deliver the same for the financial year 2018- 2019 which failure amounts to a gross violation of the Constitution and the County Government Act.

She further accuses Governor Waiguru of undermining the authority of the County Assembly.

The MCA cites Article 176 (1) and 185 (3) and (4) of the Constitution, as read together with Section 8 of the County Government Act, which empowers the County Assembly to legislate and offer oversight as well as approving county plans and policies on the development and management of the County’s infrastructure and institutions.

She states that the Governor is mandated to submit the county plans and policies to the county assembly for approval.

“That the governor’s failure to comply with Section 30 (2) (f), (j) and (k) of the County Government Act 2012 not only undermines the power and the authority of the County assembly to offer oversight and approve various developmental plans but also greatly clogs the wheels of the Wanjiku’s oriented development in Kirinyaga County,” the motion reads.

Governor Waiguru is also on the spot over several tenders that the MCA claims were irregularly awarded.

They include a tender on evaluation report for proposed upgrading of Kagumo market that was prepared on December 20, 2018.

According to the MCA, the tender was awarded to Joames Investment Limited but without following the due process yet the award to Joames Investment limited had not been cancelled.

“The tender was unilaterally undertaken by Master Rock Construction Company whose bid was non- responsive thereby violating the Constitution and the Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Act, 2015 and the regulations therein,” the motion reads.

Another tender listed is one that was to procure the governor’s vehicle at a cost of Ksh.15, 000, 000/= that was allegedly irregularly awarded despite the same having been procured during the previous County Government regime of Joseph Ndathi.

“(This) action amounts to imprudent use of public resources, and in furtherance of the corrupt practices,” the MCA said in the motion.