Kiambu Governor Waititu Speaks Out After He Was Impeached

Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu has spoken out after he was impeached from office on Thursday.

Waititu was ousted after 63 out of 92 Members of the Kiambu County Assembly (MCAs) voted in support of an impeachment motion tabled by Ndenderu Ward Representative Solomon Kinuthia. The motion met the required two-thirds majority threshold after only one MCA voted against it while 28 members were absent.

In the motion, MCA Kinuthia cited gross misconduct and abuse of office as the main grounds for Waititu’s impeachment. He also accused Waititu of flouting the public procurement and disposal act by influencing the award of contracts to companies associated with his immediate family and close relatives.

Governor Waititu also faced another accusation of violating the constitution by forcefully dispossessing and unlawfully occupying a parcel of land in Thika belonging to Cecilia Njoki Mbugua, a widow.

Speaking to a local news outlet via phone after his impeachment, Governor Waititu insisted that the County Assembly did not meet the quorum to impeach him. He also claimed that Deputy Governor James Nyoro, who has been running Kiambu County after he was barred from accessing his office over graft charges, sponsored the ouster motion.

"They did not meet the threshold. It is all fixed and I will not let them have their way. If you saw what was happening, you understand that it is pure lies,” said Waititu.

"It was orchestrated by my deputy James Nyoro and my opponents and I will face them in court.”