The Council of Governors now says it is not happy with how senators handled the impeachment motion against Wajir Governor Mohamed Mohamud Abdi.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, chairman Martin Wambora claimed the process violated the law, saying the Senate did not investigate the matter as provided for under Section 33 (4) of the County Governments Act.
“Notably, the allegation that was upheld against the Governor was not substantiated. The Senate has lowered the threshold for impeachment of a Governor and this largely exposes the Counties to political upheavals,” Wambora said.
“On the face of it, the impeachment process appears to be political witch hunt, a vice that should not be allowed to disrupt governance.”
Wambora said of concern, is the hurried manner within which the swearing in process was undertaken which did not take into consideration the provisions of the Assumption of the Office of the Governor Act.
He said that they will hold a full Council meeting on Friday, to deliberate on the matter and issue a comprehensive statement on the same.
The lawmakers upheld recommendations by an impeachment committee that recommended Abdi's removal for violating Article 43 (1) on health rights.
MCAs had accused the governor of running down health facilities in the county, with health workers’ strike a frequent phenomenon.
The decisive vote that crumbled the governor’s political career, was preceded by high stakes lobbying by both camps to persuade the lawmakers to vote in their favour.
Hours to the vote, Wajir Senator Abdullahi Ali and some MCAs stormed an office of a senior leader in Parliament where two women reps were allegedly hosting some senators to persuade them to vote in favour of the governor.
After the impeachment, Ahmed Mukhtar was on Tuesday sworn as Wajir governor after Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka gazetted the impeachment of Abdi.
Mukhtar, 39, was sworn in by High Court Judge Said Chitembwe in a brief ceremony held at the county headquarters in Wajir town.
However, the impeached governor received order stopping the swearing-in of his deputy as county chief.
The order was obtained after Mukhtar had already been sworn-in.
