Ex-MP urges parliament to enact law protecting independent governors from impeachment
Former Thika Town Member of Parliament Patrick Wainaina 'WaJungle' says a law should be introduced to protect independently elected leaders following the experience of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
Wainaina said leaders elected on independent tickets, particularly governors, are greatly disadvantaged and asked the Senate and National Assembly to enact a law that protects their tenure.
Speaking at Kihara in Kiambu county during the commissioning of Ribazi Homes Housing project, the former legislator said it was grossly unfair for the Meru County Assembly to attempt to hound Mwangaza out of office barely three months after she was elected.
The Meru governor who was elected as an independent candidate, beating a UDA Party wave in the county, was spared from impeachment by Senate which dismissed accusations levelled against her by members of the County Assembly, touching on abuse of office.
Save governors from impeachmnent
Wainaina said just like members of parliament, governors should not be impeached before serving for at least two to three years, during which period the electorate will have gauged their performance.
"As a former gubernatorial aspirant for Kiambu, I would be uncomfortable with any attempt to impeach the current governor. He should be given ample time to execute his manifesto which should be at least two years," Wainaina said.
He added that past experience shows there is no level playing ground for independents who have to meet stringent conditions from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) before they are cleared unlike those sponsored by political parties, hence the need for a law to safeguard their tenure.
