This archive report was first published on 15 July 2019.
On Monday, Laikipia County MCAs voted to oust County Executive Committee member for Finance and Economic planning Murungi Ndai from office, following a report by a select committee that recommended his removal due to abuse of office and violation of the constitution.
The five-member committee, led by Simon Kanyutu (Marmanet), had been investigating allegations against Ndai for the past 10 days. The committee found that Ndai had violated the law by appointing County Revenue Board CEO Prudence Waithera without proper procedures.
According to Kanyutu, the letters presented to the panel showed that the county government had employed Waithera before she was seconded from the national government, contradicting Ndai's claim that she was on secondment.
Ndai defended himself, terming the grilling by the committee as unfair and subjective. He claimed that Governor Ndiritu Muriithi had opted to seek secondment to fill the CEO's slot because the County Public Service Board is not structured.
However, Kanyutu maintained that the hearing was conducted in a fair manner and that all relevant witnesses were brought on board. He also stated that Ndai declined to have the governor testify on the appointment of the revenue board CEO.
The MCAs had unanimously voted to axe Ndai from the position, accusing him of failing to conduct public participation during the drafting of the finance bill and delayed payment of salaries to workers.
Laikipia MCAs have also passed a motion to remove from office executive in charge of trade, tourism and cooperative development Biwott Tirop, with a five-member committee formed to investigate allegations lodged against him.
