Kericho, Kenya: Impeached Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony has maintained he is innocent as the ten-man Senate Committee prepares to table its report in the House on Wednesday.
The governor, who received support from Rift Valley leaders, including Deputy President William Ruto, said he was optimistic that he will be cleared of any wrong doing.
Yesterday, Chepkwony said he was optimistic reason will prevail as he maintained that the accusations levelled against him did not merit an impeachment Motion.
Ruto, who visited the county over weekend ahead of the Senate special sitting, said Governor Chepkwony was safe.
“All the issues about Governor Chepkwony will be sorted out by the Senate. Kericho residents have nothing to worry about,” the DP told a gathering in Kericho town where he officiated the opening a business complex owned by a group of elderly men.
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Gross violation
Chepkwony, who spoke to The Standard yesterday, said he is a “clean man” and is only being “crucified politically”.
The governor, who was impeached on grounds of gross violation of the Constitution, the County Government Act 2012, the Public Finance Management Act and the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, said the allegations leveled against him do not merit an impeachment motion.
The Senate committee is expected to deliver its recommendations on June 3.
“I never engaged in any malpractices or been summoned by any anti-corruption agency since I took office and no public funds have been lost,” maintained the besieged governor.
Kericho County Assembly Leader of Majority Daniel Rono said the assembly exercised its oversight role and it is upon the Senate to scrutinise the allegations against Chepkwony and make its own verdict.
“The assembly simply exercised its oversight role and we had to do what we had to do. It is now upon the Senate to make its own judgment over the matter,” said Rono.
