This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
On June 26, 2020, a Senate Select Committee concluded its investigation into the impeachment of Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, acquitting her of the charges brought against her by the County Assembly.
The committee, led by Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malalah, found that the County Assembly did not provide direct evidence linking Waiguru to alleged corruption, abuse of office, and violation of procurement regulations.
According to the report, the County Assembly failed to substantiate allegations that Waiguru failed to deliver the annual State of the County address for the Financial year 2018/2019 to the County Assembly and that she undermined the authority of the County Assembly.
However, the committee noted that Waiguru had demonstrated that two Annual State of the County Address was made, albeit one was not delivered in the County Assembly. The committee further noted that there is no county legislation to provide for the content of the Annual State of the County Address as required by section 30(2)(k) of the County Government Act.
On the allegation of violating procurement regulations, the committee found that there was a clear mismanagement of some tenders, but they were not linked to Waiguru. The committee recommended that the DCI and EACC delve deeper into the allegations and identify the culprits for prosecution.
The committee also pointed out that Governor Waiguru discounted allegations by the County Assembly that she pocketed allowances for foreign trips that she did not travel. According to the committee, the Governor adduced evidence of the travel and where travel was not undertaken, the imprest was surrendered, though out of time.
On violation of the Right to Health of the people of Kirinyaga county, the committee established that there were significant systemic problems in the health sector in Kirinyaga but recommended the issues be addressed as soon as possible by the various organs including the County Assembly and National Government institutions.
