It’s a witch hunt and I will be cleared, says Governor Mwangi Wa Iria

Embattled Murang’a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria (pictured) has accused County Assembly members of witch hunt, saying they conspired to impeach him after he failed to release funds for their use.

He accused the Assembly of allowing to be incited by external forces whose aim is to derail development in the county.

Speaking to The Standard on Saturday, Mr Wa Iria observed that he was not under any threat, adding that the impeachment process has not started as the matter is still pending in the High Court.

“I moved to court since I felt my rights have been violated by the County Assembly, the same place where I was not offered a chance to respond to the accusations levelled against me,” he said.

He claimed the MCAs hatched a plot to intimidate him after he failed to release millions of shillings to the County Assembly.

“In the last financial year, Murang’a County Assembly was among county assemblies that spent more money than was budgeted for. The MCAs have pending matters before the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission in connection with foreign trips,” he said.

Wa Iria becomes the second governor in Mt Kenya region to be impeached after his Embu counterpart Martin Wambora. The MCAs listed 28 grounds, accusing him of abuse of office, unsustainable debts amounting to Sh2.5 billion and disrespect to other elected leaders.

The Senate has already received the impeachment documents from the County Assembly and Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow has been appointed to chair a committee that will probe his impeachment. During an interview with The Standard on Saturday yesterday, Iria noted that the MCAs were allowing themselves to be used by external forces whose aim is to derail development.

“I am highly convinced that the MCAs were incited by politicians eyeing for governorship in 2017. Individuals led by Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau and my Deputy Governor Gakure Monyo have been mentioned by the MCAs as those behind the impeachment motion in readiness for the next General Election,” said Iria.

He exuded confidence that through the use of constitutional recognised processes, he will be cleared of any wrongs, since they resulted to impeach him after he refused to be arm-twisted to release the funds.

“The charges levelled against me by the Assembly are malicious and i decided to move to court because the MCAs who are charged with oversight against the County Government failed to seek for my explanation.

This results to violation of my rights,” he said.

He continued: “I am confident that after the process, I will be cleared by the court since the laid down processes of impeachment were not followed as the law demands”.

He lamented that disunity among MCAs was the major challenge he has encountered, but noted it will soon be over and he will have time to concentrate on development.