Embattled Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has warned the Senate 11 member Committee listening to her impeachment case to be ready to bear consequences if her ouster sails through.
Waiguru said so while defending herself against graft charges fronted by Kirinyaga MCAs to the Senator Cleophas Malala-led committee on Tuesday, June 23. The County boss also poured cold water on the abuse of office allegations arguing that they were based on falsities and innuendos.
"Focus must shift to protecting Governors and County Executives from the excessive overstepping of the oversight power by MCAs. My officers are summoned daily and issued threats that they will be removed from office or otherwise sanctioned.
"Kirinyaga MCAs have also made several statements that this is just one of nine impeachments they have lined up to ensure they destabilize the County totally," she asked for protection of Governors.
She also argued that impeachment motions are vastly time-consuming exercises that take away the valuable time of all parties involved. Waiguru added that the elapsed time will pile more woes to her constituents as the budget had not been approved yet the MCAs were hell-bent on her ouster.
The Jubilee Governor further stated that another consequence would be that the Senate would be used as a platform to settle scores and would lose its credibility.
"While you cannot stop legitimate impeachment motions to be prosecuted, you must give sufficient guidelines that ensure that impeachment is not misused. It must not be made a tool for pursuing vendetta and the Senate must not be made an accomplice in such endeavours," she warned.
This she argued would deter ambitious Kenyans from running for the Governor's post which would affect devolution.
She also highlighted that empowering the County Assemblies would also be a wasted effort since they were designed to represent the image of effective government at the grassroots for Kenyans.
"It has been the desire of the Senate and those who believe in strong devolved governments to erase the history of Councilors in the old local governments who engaged in fisticuffs and other such other unfortunate methods of handling Council business and resolving disputes," she detailed.
Poking holes into the MCAs, she stated how embarrassed she was to see them sleep in the Assembly at night prior to the impeachment proceedings and roughing up fellow members aligned to her.
She also argued that she was notified of the debate on the morning of her impeachment day yet she had travelled out of the county while arguing that the said embezzlement of funds was crafted against her.
Video: NTV
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