Senators reject team picked to hear Waititu ouster case
The impeachment hearing of Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu will be conducted by all senators following the rejection of a committee proposed by Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen to prosecute the matter.
This was caused by the divisions in the ruling Jubilee Party which played out on the floor of Senate last evening.
Senators claimed the party leadership was influenced by the rift in the party between the Tanga Tanga group, allied to Deputy President William Ruto and Kieleweke, which supports President Uhuru Kenya, in picking members of the committee.
“The Tanga tanga team has taken the lion share which is unacceptable,” said Senator Farhiya Ali (Nominated).
And following the dispute, senators voted to reject the select committee to allow the plenary to hear the case.
Jubilee senators led by Farhiya, Isaac Mwaura (Nominated), Samuel Poghisio (West Pokot) and Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a) had objected the composition of the committee.
Central Kenya
They accused Murkomen of having not convened a meeting to deliberate on the names to represent the party in the team.
“The selection has not been fair and does not represent the Central Kenya region where the matter originated from,” said Kang’ata, the deputy Majority Whip.
The contentious committee comprised Senator Cleophas Malala (chair), Susan Kihika (vice chair), Sylvia Kasanga (Nominated) and Mohamed Faki (Mombasa).
Others proposed were Eric Okong’o (Nyamira), Fred Outa (Kisumu), Hargura Godana (Marsabit), Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), Anuar Oloitiptip (Lamu), Mithika Linturi (Meru) and Iman Falhada (Nominated).
It was Poghisio (Kanu) who opened debate on the composition of the committee saying it was skewed in favour of those aligned to Jubilee factions.
While opposing the motion, Mwaura said the plenary should determine the matter as opposed the select committee which he said had a predetermined conclusion.
“We cannot sit here to discuss a motion of an individual who stole money from the people of Kiambu.
The evidence before us is clear and the best way is for the plenary to determine his fate,” said Mwaura before he was cut short by Speaker Kenneth Lusaka.
Falia said Jubilee members who are not allied to either of the two sides were left out of the team.
The charges
Among the charges Waititu is facing is violating the law resulting in the county government losing Sh4 billion.
He is also accused of disregarding the County Assembly and undermining its three roles of legislation, oversight and representation through non-remittance of requisitioned funds in the Financial Year 2018/19.
