This archive report was first published on 15 June 2020.
Published on June 15, 2020, Kirinyaga Senator Charles Kibiru has announced plans to table a motion to amend the House Standing Orders to ensure that future impeachments against governors are always heard and determined by the whole House.
According to Kibiru, the current standing orders deny voters their democracy whenever a Senate select committee is solely responsible for determining the impeachment process, leading to suspicion and mistrust.
Addressing the media at a Makutano hotel on Sunday, Kibiru stated that he was joining other leaders from the county in demanding that Waiguru's case be heard at the plenary in full glare of television cameras and live Radio coverage.
Legislators who accompanied Kibiru during the media briefing were Munene Wambugu (Kirinyaga Central), Mwea's Kabinga Wachira, and his Gichugu counterpart, Gichimu Githinji.
They clarified that only the 47 elected senators would be able to vote if the matter is handled at the plenary, while the 20 nominated Senators can only ask questions to the charged governor but have no voting power.
Wambugu stated that even at the County Assembly, the impeachment motion led by the Mutira MCA, Kinyua wa Wangui was heard at the plenary and supported by a majority.
Separately, the area Women Representative, Wangui Ngirichi has made a similar call that the governor should be tried at the plenary, claiming that she had witnessed a parliamentary select committee get compromised since it comprises of just a few legislators unlike the plenary.
Ngirichi has urged Kang'ata to drop the names of the 11-member select committee and revert to the plenary or else he will face the wrath of Kirinyaga residents whose resources have allegedly been stolen.
Meanwhile, the Episcopal Alliance of Kenya, local Chapter has echoed similar sentiments over the Waiguru impeachment, with its Chairperson, Bishop David Mugwimi stating that the Chapter wants nothing short of the plenary for the purpose of transparency and accountability.
The Senate Majority Whip, Irungu Kanga’ta, however, rubbished claims that he has been mobilizing support for an 11-member team for the Governor Anne Waiguru impeachment proceedings, stating that it is the Senate Business Committee that made the proposal during a meeting on Friday afternoon.
