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.

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)

ODPP: Press Statement – Inquiry into Allegations of Irregular Awarding of Tender for Upgrading of Roads and Embezzlement of Public Funds of Officials of the County Government of Kiambu (26.07.2019)

DPP: Press Statement – Investigation on Allegation of Irregular Payment of Kshs 68,000,000/= made by Nairobi City County to M/S Wachira Mburu, Mwangi & Company Advocates (26.04.2019)

EACC: Press Statement on Investigations into Two Allegations of Irregular Payment of Kshs 68 Million by Nairobi City County Government to Wachira Mwangi and Company Advocates (26.04.2019)

Kenya: IEBC – “The Commission wishes to notify the public that one of its ICT Managers was last seen on Friday night. Efforts being made to trace him” (30.07.2017)

Kenya: Thirdway Alliance – “Press Release on the Presidential Ballot Papers Due Dilligence Update at Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing LLC in Dubai, UAE” (28.07.2017)

Kenya: IEBC – Code of Conduct Summons on Marsabit Violence (27.07.2017)

I wonder if President Kenyatta feel he is entitled and that it is beneath him to have a debate with Odinga?

You can wonder and get amazed, he did the same trick President Museveni did in the General Election 2016, and he did not show up at the live TV debate between the Presidential Candidates. Just like in Uganda, his arch nemesis showed up and that was the NASA candidate Raila Odinga. Not that all the other candidates showed up either, but it was only one-half of the main candidates. That the incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta of the Jubilee could not show is amazing. Especially, since there were reports that he ditched the planned rallies on the same day.

At this point, it does not matter what Odinga said yesterday at the Debate, he at least showed up on Primetime TV spot and showed himself for the republic and the incumbent could not care less about the arranged debate. What is so dangerous about it Kenyatta? Is it terrible to ask questions about your achievement in office?

It seems so, since you could not spare the time or the effort to show up to the debate. Only one that was on live TV and on most of the channels. I would have loved to discuss the difference in style and in chose of words to the different questions between Odinga and Kenyatta. However, I cannot do that, since it was one party there and the other left behind.

So at this point, it is mere enough for the support and the courage of Odinga, just to be there and take the questions from journalists and the audience, something the President was to big to do or something like that.

His State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu wrote this today: “Today, His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta will commence an intense 12-day tour of Kenya, to meet fellow citizens from all walks of life, in all regions of the country. His last campaign events will be in the capital Nairobi on August 6 – 48 hours before the August 8 elections. This will be the second round of an all counties campaign where the President will take his message to Kenyans. Only this Sunday he completed a 14-counties blitz covered in seven days in which he put his call for unity and peace at the heart of his campaign agenda. These meet-the-people visits will see the President traverse 30 counties, making stops at more than 200 campaign stops. His Excellency the Deputy President, the Honourable William Ruto, will be visiting dozens of counties as well, making another 200 campaign stops. The President is going directly to the people to demonstrate what the August election is about – himself as someone who is fighting to deliver benefits, success and prosperity to the people versus an opposition challenger who is only after power for himself” (President.co.ke – ‘Spokesperson’s statement’ 25.07.2017).

It is okay, that the President campaigns and travels to every corner of Kenya, that he visit every single county and even every major town of the Republic. Nevertheless, why do he not have the time for a scheduled TV-Debate? Is that too much to ask and anticipate of the President? That the people all through the nation can watch and discuss the differences between him and Odinga?

Let me end on a side-note, but still a viable one. Does President Kenyatta, feel entitled to be the President and therefore a debate about his position and character is beneath him? That is how it can seem like, to not only me, but also many others.

Therefore, we are at this junction and so near the end of the campaigns and race for 8^th August polls, there have been significant difference between the NASA and Jubilee from the get-go. In addition, with the time, it is more evident, than ever before. This race will be tight and prognoses seems to be for NASA in many aspects, but hard to grasp yet. There are enough days to see the wind of change. Nevertheless, this is something that is hard to anticipate.

What we can ask ourselves after yesterday’s acts of the President Kenyatta, does he feel entitled to rule and be Executive, or is it just mere arrogance towards Odinga. Peace.

Kenya: NASA Condems Plans for Military Involvement in Election (23.07.2017)