Governor Ferdinand Waititu impeached by the Senate!

Today on the 29^th January 2019, the Senate did impeached the Kiambu County Governor Ferdinand Waititu for abuse of office. On the 27^th May 2019, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) released their press relase, where they officially started investigations into irregular tenders of the value of Ksh. 588 millions, which they had started on 23^rd May 2019.

In early May, the Governor had to answer his budget for the Senate Public Accounts Committee, where they were questioning a Ksh. 1 billion, which was allocated to State House functions and even South Sudanese Peace Programme. Those programs are for the State not the County to look-over. His defence back-then was that his financial department had used a template used by state, while the Auditor General confirmed that he had gotten financial reporting containing these expenditures submitted to him.

On the 26^th July 2019, the Office of the Department of Public Prosecution (ODPP), which even mentioned the fantastic company getting the favourable tenders from Kiambu County. That company was named M/s Testimony Enterprises Limited. Where there was irregular payments to the company and also using these funds to buy an hotel together with his wife. That hotel was Bienvenue Delta Hotel, which was bought with these funds.

On the 27^th July 2019 the EACC released their second press release that they were looking for the governor and his associates. As they had initiated for their arrest on the 13^th July 2019. Therefore, the case that was held and voted on in the Senate. Had already been investigated by the authorities.

Now, today the Senate has validate this and the shady practices made by the Governor. His actions has cost him. His mismanagement and misusing of the County Government funds. Trying to forge an audit and records to look clean, when he really did use an associates business and tenders to enrich himself. That is the reality of all of this.

Governor Waititu might not be the only doing this, he was one taken down today. We know that Governor Sonko and Kidero is answering for crimes committed too. Who knows if they will get the same sort of action by the Senate. That in regard to Sonko, as he might be next up in line.

We now have seen action by Senate to act upon on Governor and impeach him. That is serious and also question, if they will do to others or only picked this man. To show some flex and ability to work for the common good. Then they should also look into others and their questionable use of state funds. Because, in Kenya, Waititu is not the only man doing this.

Time will tell, but this is a big leap. A Governor been taken down by the Senate. Who can wonder is coming up next. Peace.

Kenya: KEJUDE letter to EACC – Re: Request to Probe whether some MPs have dual Nationality (01.10.2019)

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EACC: Press Statement on Investigations regarding Alleged Irregular Award of Tender for Upgrading of Roads and Embezzlement of Funds by Officials of County Government of Kiambu (27.07.2019)

Kenya: Press Statement by the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission on Media Allegations about Robbery by EACC Staff (14.02.2019)

Kenya: Governor Mutua letter to Deputy IGP – “Re: Sensational Letter from Ms. Wavinya Ndeti dated June 29th 2017 (30.06.2017)

Kenya: EACC investigation into Gov. Hassan Joho and Tom Mboya Primary School verifying his education!

Answer from the School to EACC:

 

Kilifi Governor Kingi before EACC (Youtube-Clip)

“Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi is at this hour being interrogated by the ethics and anti-corruption officials over claims of embezzlement of millions of shillings of public funds in his county. Kingi who arrived at the integrity centre an hour ago is accompanied by a host of ODM leaders and is expected to shed light on the spending of 51 million shillings in unexplained expenditure as well as 308 million shillings meant to acquire an 11 acre land for a bus park in Kilifi. Sam Gituku is at the integrity centre and Sam, what should we expect from the grilling session?” (Kenya Citizen TV, 2016)

Kenya: Press Statement on the Status of the Recruitment of Chairperson, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (21.11.2016)

UN Experts criticize Kenya Police for Excessive Use of Force against Peaceful Protesters (10.11.2016)

The demonstrators were protesting against alleged government corruption when police used teargas and batons to disperse them.

GENEVA, Switzerland, November 10, 2016 -A group of UN human rights experts* has condemned a violent clampdown on a peaceful protest in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, while urging the authorities to investigate claims of excessive use of force and arbitrary arrest – both against demonstrators and journalists – and to hold all perpetrators accountable.
The demonstrators were protesting against alleged government corruption when police used teargas and batons to disperse them. A number of people are reported to have been injured or detained during the incident on 3 November.

“Interference with the right to freedom of peaceful assembly is inexcusable at any time, but it is especially repugnant when demonstrators are calling for government accountability,” the experts said. “Protesters may sometimes raise uncomfortable truths, but holding people in power to account is a central function of peaceful assemblies in a democracy.”

The experts also expressed alarm at the timing of the crackdown, less than a year before Kenyans elect a new president in August 2017. They said creating an environment where opinions could be expressed peacefully was key to avoiding a repeat of the wave of violence which followed the disputed presidential poll in 2007.

“Beating protesters does not make their grudges go away. Rather, it intensifies them, because it sends the message that the government does not care,” they stressed. “This approach does not foster a culture of dialogue; it fosters a culture of violence, which is exactly the opposite of what Kenya needs right now.”

The UN independent experts also expressed grave concern over reports that police had attacked journalists covering the protest, in some cases damaging their equipment.

“International law protects the right of everyone – including journalists and human rights defenders– to observe, monitor and report on such events,” the experts said. “It also imposes a duty on States to protect the rights of monitors to do their jobs, even if the gatherings turn violent. Attacking journalists who perform this important public duty is simply unfathomable.”

The UN Special Rapporteurs called on the Kenyan authorities to respect the demonstrators’ fundamental rights at future protests, and noted that they would be watching developments closely.

(*) The experts: Mr Maina Kiai, Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Mr. David Kaye, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and Mr. Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.

Kenya: To the Public Accounts Committee (Parliament), Media Houses and All Interested Parties (08.11.2016)