Murang’a starts process to remove Governor

Murang’a County Assembly members have begun the process of removing Governor Mwangi Wa Iria for alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office.

Speaker Nduati Kariuki allowed a notice of the impeachment motion be tabled by nominated Member of County Assembly (MCA) Mary Waithera.

According to Waithera, the house resolved to remove the Governor from office pursuant to Article 181 (1) (a) (b) (c) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and Section 33 of the County Governments Act 2012.

She accused the Governor of gross violation of the constitution, County Governments Act 2012, the Public Finance Management Act 2012 and the Public Procurement and Disposal Act 2005.

The MCAs have more than once criticized the executive for failing to control county debts saying the executive arm of the county government does not implement the set departmental ceilings.

Waithera cited lack of accountability in the management and use of county resources by incurring unsustainable debt to the tune of Ksh 2.5 billion which she said were not disclosed in the Debt Management and Fiscal Paper 2015.

She also accused the Governor of spending public funds in private commercial entities saying the auditors reports showed that the county spent over Ksh 28 million in the controversial Murang’a Investment Co-Operative Society known as Shilingi Kwa Shilingi.

She added that the executive under the Governor incurred advertisement expenditure costs amounting to Ksh 247 million against an approved budget of Ksh 7 million thereby undermining the principals of fiscal prudence.

“The Governor has also failed to establish the county budget and economic forum and also disregarded the county assembly and undermining its legislative authority through requisition of monies and not remitting the same hence crippling operations of the house,” said Waithera

The assembly accused the Governor of borrowing a loan of Ksh 200 million from the Kenya Commercial Bank without a guarantee from National Treasury.

The assembly members said they had nothing personal against the Governor adding that they have attempted to hold talks with him but their efforts have gone to waste.

More than a third of the members supported the motion by appending their signatures on the verification form as required by the law.

According to the standing orders of the assembly, the motion will be placed on the order paper after seven days and members will have to debate it within three days.

Several county assemblies including Embu, Makueni, Kericho and Pokot have in the past attempted to impeach their Governors.

This comes at a time the same assembly unanimously voted to impeach the county finance executive George Kamau over what they termed as abuse of office, incompetence and misuse of funds.

They said the Governor and Kamau displayed great incompetence and thus do not deserve to continue serving in their positions.