Senate to decide ousted Waiguru's fate next week

The Senate could start the process of impeaching Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru (pictured) or save her from the chop after ward representatives formally notified Speaker Ken Lusaka.

The Members of County Assembly (MCA) led by Majority Leader James Murango submitted to Mr Lusaka a notification of the County Assembly’s resolution, Hansard, charges, evidence and a signed list of all the 23 lawmakers who voted in favour of the motion to impeach Waiguru on Tuesday.

Section 33 (2) (a) of the County Governments Act, 2012, stipulates that county assembly speaker should inform the Senate counterpart of the assembly's resolution within two days.

Given the strict legal timelines, Lusaka said he had summoned a special meeting of the House Business Committee.

The ouster motion will be filed on the floor on Tuesday when the Senate resumes its weekly sittings.

“I have called for a Special House Business Committee meeting at 2.30pm today (yesterday) to deliberate on whether we will form a committee to investigate the claims or the governor shall defend herself before the plenary,” said Lusaka.

The Act stipulates that the House can form an 11-member committee which shall investigate the charges and table a report with recommendations within 10 days.

The Senate speaker shall, within seven days of the receipt of the notification, convene a meeting of the Senate to hear charges against the governor.

Both majority and minority parties can form an 11-member committee to hear the allegations and file a report to the House within 10 days. Should the plenary reject the composition of the committee, the governor shall appear before all the senators with the speaker as the judge and argue out her case before a vote is taken.

And should a majority of the committee members reject the ouster, the motion shall stand defeated and the governor shall continue serving.

But should the majority support the removal, then the matter will be subjected to a debate in the plenary and a vote taken.

Lusaka assured the ward representatives that the Senate shall accord both parties a fair hearing.