This archive report was first published on 20 December 2019.
On December 20, 2019, a dramatic turn of events unfolded in Kiambu County as Governor Ferdinand Waititu's impeachment bid was foiled by the very people he had bribed.
According to sources, Waititu had sold a prime piece of land in Ruai, Nairobi to raise Sh5.5 million, which he then used to bribe about 50 MCAs with Sh500,000 each, in a futile attempt to stop his impeachment.
However, the MCAs, who had received the money, fled the hotel owned by Waititu and joined their colleagues at the County Assembly, where they impeached the governor.
It is alleged that the MCAs received a call from State House, warning them that failure to impeach Waititu would result in the Jubilee Party defrocking them, leading to the loss of their seats.
Each MCA was told individually by the unidentified caller from State House that they were free to take Waititu's money but should thereafter proceed to the County Assembly to impeach the embattled governor.
As a result of the impeachment, Deputy Governor James Nyoro recalled all the vehicles allocated to Waititu, leaving him with no choice but to use his private car, without bodyguards.
Waititu's impeachment came days after the Assets Recovery Unit moved to attach some of his properties believed to have been obtained using proceeds from corruption.
A 22-wheel tanker belonging to the governor has been impounded, and he has been ordered to surrender title deeds of land in Nairobi hosting a four-storey building.
The governor suffered another setback after the Court of Appeal upheld High Court judge Mumbi Ngugi's ruling on suspension of governors facing graft charges.
The three-judge bench sitting in Milimani ruled that elected executives cannot continue attending office when facing corruption-related charges.
