Embu MCAs seek to impeach Martin Wambora, again

By Joseph Muchiri

Embu, Kenya: Some members of Embu County Assembly sought to oust embattled governor Martin Wambora for a second time.

Speaker Justus Mate, however, declined to re-table the Motion to impeach the ejected governor, arguing that the matter was still pending in court.

Mate clarified that the county has no substantive governor at the moment as Wambora had not been reinstated by any court order.

“I am aware that there is a court order temporarily staying the gazette notice number 1052 of February 17 issued by the Speaker of the Senate for the information of the public. However, I am not aware of a court order that reinstated the former governor,” said Kariuki.

“I am, however, aware of such a prayer made before court, which was for the reinstatement of Martin Wambora as the governor, but a prayer which was not granted until the substantive hearing of the application on Monday.”

Move motion afresh

He said he was consulting with the Senate Speaker and Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission on the necessary legal instrumentation required to declare a vacancy in the office of the governor as Deputy Governor Dorothy Nditi continued to act in the capacity.

Deputy Speaker Ibrahim Swaleh had sought direction from the Speaker on how to go about the debate, given that the Standing Orders barred the assembly from having a substantive Motion on a matter that was before the courts.

Swaleh had demanded to get the Speaker’s stand on Wambora reinstatement, claiming that the act by the court was a violation of the wishes of the people of Embu.

“Why is the former governor jumping from one court to another seeking to remain in office when the people of Embu County have spoken and rejected him,” queried the deputy speaker. He vowed that he would be moving the Motion afresh if the Monday verdict overturned Wambora’s impeachment.

However, the proposal was strongly rejected by Steve Munene (Runyenjes Central) and Robert Ireri (Kagaari South), who said Wambora should be left to finish the work he had started in the county.