Muranga Governor Mwangi Wa Iria Survives ouster attempt

Muranga Governor Mwangi Wa Iria Survives ouster attempt

Murang’a Governor Mwangi Wa Iiria will retain his seat after a Senate Committee probing his impeachment ruled out the grounds used by the County Assembly to impeach him.

The embattled Governor was impeached by Murang’a County Assembly on 21st October 2015 when 34 out of 49 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) voted him out. The MCAs accused Wa Iria of gross misconduct, accumulating unsustainable debts and misappropriation of public funds.

Wa Iria has, however, survived this ouster attempt a Senate Committee looking into his impeachment has founds that the particulars used to impeach him did not meet the constitutional threshold.

Addressing the Senate, Committee Chair Senator David Musila said that the grounds used by the Muranga MCAs to kick out Wa Iria were unsubstantiated.

“Having investigated the matter in accordance with its mandate, the Committee finds that: although the governor breached some provisions of the constitution and the law, the particulars of the allegations against the governor were in terms of standing order number 68 2B found not to be substantiated,” read Musila.

For this reason, the Senate Committee said that Wa Iria will retain his seat: “The committee therefore did not recommend the impeachment of the Governor of Murang’a County.

Gross misconduct and financial mismanagement

Led by Mary Waithera, Muranga MCAs voted to remove Wa Iria from office last month, accusing him of mismanaging the county funds and gross misconduct.

“The governor has also failed to establish the county budget and economic forum and also disregarded the County Assembly and undermined its legislative authority through requisition of monies and not remitting the same hence crippling operations of the House,” said Waithera during the sitting.

She cited the Auditor General’s report which stated that county spent more than Ksh28 million on a co-operative society named Shilingi Kwa Shilingi, yet it was a private company.

On his part, Wa Iria denied all allegations leveled against him. Instead, he said that the County Assembly jumped the gun on the ouster motion as they did not give him an opportunity to defend himself. Additionally, he said that the report cited by Waithera was yet to be debated and adopted.

The governor then petitioned court to halt the impeachment motion, but the court rejected his application saying that the matter must be heard by the Senate.

The 11 member Senate Committee held hearings with all parties to ascertain whether Wa Iria was rightfully impeached by the County Assembly. After conducting investigations, the Musila led committee was to table their reconditions before the house.

Other members of the committee include: Billow Kerrow, Fatuma Dullo, Abu Chiaba, Stewart Madzayo, John Lonyangapuo, Catherine Mukite, Muriuki Karue, Stephen Sang, Janet Ongera, and Moses Kajwang’.

Wa Iria is the third governor who has faced impeachment, and concerns have been raised over the processes followed by MCAs in the movement of such motions.

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