Mild reprieve for Embu Governor Martin Wambora as team gives him more time for response

By MOSES NJAGIH

Embu, Kenya:  Embattled Embu Governor Martin Wambora has earned a mild reprieve after the Senate committee probing his impeachment granted him more time to file his response to allegations of improprieties levelled against him.

The county chief, who is fighting removal from office through an impeachment process by the Embu County Assembly, will, however, have to appear before the team tomorrow to defend himself.

The special committee chaired by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale agreed to grant Wambora more time to file his defence after he claimed he did not have sufficient time to prepare a response.

Through his lawyer Wilfred Nyamu, Wambora told the committee, which was supposed to start receiving submissions from the parties involved in the impeachment yesterday, that he required more time. He argued that he had been ambushed, as he was only notified of the Senate process a day before the sittings, a period which was not sufficient to prepare a response.

“My client only knew of this process yesterday (Thursday), worse still through an advert that was carried in the media. We did not have time to file the response. We are requesting for an adjournment to at least Monday,” said Nyamu.

Lawyers representing the county assembly, Speaker and even a section of senators appeared to oppose the application, arguing that the governor had sufficient time to prepare.

The county assembly argued it had served Wambora with details regarding his impeachment on April 24, as the assembly was discussing his removal from office, said it was wrong for him to now claim that he did not have time to respond.

Besides, the lawyers for the assembly and Speaker further argued they also got the invitation from the Senate team on Thursday, but still managed to prepare their submissions.

 Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi faulted the governor’s claim, saying he has been running adverts in dailies responding to the same allegations.

“He (Wambora) had a paid-up advert that was challenging the allegations made against him, and which are the grounds listed for his impeachment. It shows that he knew these issues,” argued Wamatangi.