NAIROBI, Kenya Jun 23 – The impaechment trial of Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru was set for Tuesday.
The Kirinyaga County Assembly will be the first to face the 11-member Senate committee chaired by Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala.
The assembly’s lawyers will be required to defend their decision to impeach Waiguru, whom they accused of abuse of office, gross misconduct, and manipulating the public procurement procedures.
She is also accused of illegally conferring a benefit of Sh10 million to herself for travel allowance.
Waiguru is scheduled to appear on Wednesday, with her defence team led by her husband Kamotho Waiganjo.
On Friday, the embattled filed responses to form basis for her defence in the impeachment trial.
“We have filed all responses substantive to all the charges leveled against the Governor. The responses are contained in 40 cartons and it is unfortunate to the people of Kirinyaga that the matter reached here,” Waiganjo said.
She submitted voluminous documents contained in 40 cartons to the Office of the Clerk of the Senate.
The committee was established last week after the Senate endorsed it to probe the allegations facing the first time Governor and establish whether the claims against her are substantiated.
But even as the hearings begin, 14 Senators who voted to have Waiguru prosecuted by the committee of the whole House have complained that the process is a charade. Some claimed that Waiguru’s fate is already known.
The committee will then retreat to write a report on Friday when it will either absolve Waiguru or recommend her removal from office.
The former Devolution Cabinet Secretary only requires the support of six Senators to survive the axe.
