The Senate on Friday has released a new date set to seal the fate of Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu.
Senate announced that on Tuesday and Wednesday(28th and 29th respectively) it will hold special meetings to handle Waititu’s Impeachment motion.
Speaker of the Senate Kenneth Lusaka in a special gazette notice recalled members from recess to investigate the proposed removal of Waititu over allegations of abuse of office, corruption and gross misconduct.
The Tuesday and Wednesday sittings will be the only business for the lawmakers before they adjourn again until the 11th of February when the house reconvenes for 2020 session.
Lusaka confirmed that the House has already summoned the governor and the MCAs and asked for evidence supporting the claims.
If any of the charges is upheld, Mr Waititu will stand impeached and therefore cease to be governor.
Of the nine impeachment charges brought to the Senate, Mr Waititu’s will be the second to be heard by the plenary after that of former Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua.
WAITITU IMPEACHMENT TRIAL
Senate to hold special sittings Tuesday, Wednesday next week
Special sitting to determine Waititu impeachment motion
Speaker Ken Lusaka gazettes the special sittings
Senate Plenary to handle the impeachment motion #FridayNight pic.twitter.com/ambflIzMtt— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) January 24, 2020
Senators from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s backyard led a revolt to reject an 11-member select committee proposed by Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo/Marakwet).
They argued that a majority of its members from the Jubilee side are allied to the Tanganga wing of Jubilee Party supporting Governor Waititu, a key ally of Deputy President William Ruto.
At the time there were forty-four Senators in the House with 28 — including Leader of Minority James Orengo (Siaya), Isaac Mwaura (nominated) and Kang’ata Irungu — voting in support of the plenary while 16 led by Leader of Majority Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo-Marakwet) favoured the committee.