Impeached Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud's official vehicles withdrawn

Former Wajir Governor Amb.Mohamed Abdi Mohamud. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

Impeached Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud may have found solace within the Council of Governors (CoG) but his troubles are far from over.

On Tuesday, police withdrew his two official vehicles - a black Toyota Land Cruiser and a bronze Subaru Forester.

A letter seen by The Standard indicates that the county government led by Governor Ahmed Ali Muktar, wrote to Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai on June 18 seeking withdrawal of the ousted governor's official cars.

“The county government of Wajir has written to the Inspector General of Police requesting for facilitation of withdrawal of official motor vehicles from the former governor following his impeachment and subsequent swearing-in of the 3rd governor of Wajir,” reads the letter by Lang’ata Sub-County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanithi dated June 28.

Police officers implemented the directive, which came a day before Mohamud had another run-in with the police. On Wednesday, police were called in to eject the beleaguered county boss from a meeting between the CoG and the National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee (NDICCC) at the Kenya School of Government in Kabete chaired by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i.

Trouble started when governors were introducing themselves and Mohamud was alongside Muktar, resulting in a standoff. The situation threatened to stall the consultative forum in the presence of President Uhuru Kenyatta's representative Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua and police were called in.

Sensing danger, Mohamud walked out without uttering a word. Muktar who sat through the meeting later addressed the media and accused his predecessor of conducting himself in a dishonourable manner.

“He (Mohamud) is an elderly guy and a respectable person who has been in office for a while… but when he misbehaves he should be disciplined,” the governor said.

He accused him of being an 'imposer' by taking up his seat at the meeting.

The embattled governor has enjoyed the backing of the CoG, attending meetings his former deputy – Muktar – has not attended. In May, Mohamud represented Wajir County at a CoG full council meeting and was amongst the governors who issued a statement on behalf of the governors’ body.

During the State of the Devolution address by CoG Chairman Governor Martin Wambora, the impeached governor was present but Muktar was absent.

Asked why he didn't attend, he downplayed the matter, claiming it was an event to bid farewell the outgoing council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jacqueline Mogeni, who has since been appointed a judge.

"That was a meeting to bid farewell to the former CEO. It was a meeting of friends," said Muktar.

The controversy surrounding the impeachment of Mohamud saw him attend the first meeting after his ouster in person at Delta House, while Muktar was admitted virtually to give his account of the happenings.

This was followed by public appearances of Mohamud who attended the Madaraka Day in Kisumu county alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta, with Muktar also in attendance.

The former governor also joined the president during the re-launch of the Kuungana, Kufanya, Kusaidia Kenya (4-Kenya) at Jamhuri in Nairobi County.

A team of officers drawn from Kilimani police stormed the besieged former governor’s residence at Silver Spring and took the vehicles to the station.

Mohamud and Muktar have claimed access to the county offices as their case is set to be heard and determined by a three-judge Bench appointed by Chief Justice Martha Koome.

Governor Wambora has insisted that Mohamud remains the lawful county boss, given that his impeachment case is pending in court.

Immediately after he was ousted, he rushed to court to block the swearing-in of his then deputy. He, however, secured stay orders against the ceremony after Muktar had taken the oath of office.

Before that, he had secured orders barring the Senate from debating the motion of his removal from office.

The withdrawal of his official vehicles dents his claim to the Wajir governorship.