Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has been picked as the chairman of the Senate Select Committee that will try Governor Anne Waiguru following her impeachment by Kirinyaga ward representatives.
Nominated Senator Abshiro will deputize the Amani National Congress senator as the vice-chairperson of the select committee.
The decision to go the select committee route was reached in Tuesday’s chaotic Senate session amid stiff resistance from allies of Deputy President William Ruto for plenary.
During the session, Senate Minority Leader James Orengo locked horns with former Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen and former Majority Whip Susan Kihika.
Orengo, the Siaya senator, claimed that Governor Waiguru is being fought by forces outside the Kirinyaga County Assembly.
“Waiguru’s head is being asked for, not by the county assembly. I can tell you and I have evidence, the people who are looking for Waiguru’s head are not the county assembly,” said the Siaya Senator, who voted for the special committee.
It was not lost on spectators that Orengo was in the camp that in 2015 agitated for Ms. Waiguru’s removal as Devolution Cabinet Secretary over alleged graft claims.
In Tuesday’s push for the select committee route, Orengo drowned out calls for a plenary garnering 45 votes against 14.
Kirinyaga Senator Charles Kibiru said that the outcome of the Senate process seems determined based on the push for the special team.
“Nobody is saying that the governor is corrupt and I don’t want the persuade the Senate to think that way. The people of Kirinyaga are watching and it’s unfortunate that the die is cast. By going the committee way, the verdict is known,” the senator said.
The other members of the committee are Moses Kajwang’ (Homa Bay), Mwangi Githiomi (Nyandarua), Anuar Loitiptip (Lamu), Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi), Philip Mpaayei (Kajiado), Michael Mbito (Trans Nzoia), and Nominated Senators Abshiro Halake, Beth Mugo, Beatrice Kwamboka and Judith Pareno.
