Ahmed Ali Muktar has been sworn in as Wajir Governor.
Muktar’s swearing in was gazetted shortly after the impeachment of Mohamed Abdi.
Shortly after taking oath of office, Muktar said the ceremony is a turning point for service delivery for the people of Wajir.
“I commit myself to prioritize services especially in the health, education and water sector. I promise to strengthen the bond of unity between the people of Wajir,” he said.
Ahmed Ali Muktar: This ceremony is expected to be a turning point for service delivery for the people of Wajir. I commit myself to prioritize services especially in the health, education and water sector. I promise to strengthen the bond of unity between the people of Wajir pic.twitter.com/nxhETG8WQB
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) May 18, 2021
Abdi was removed from office after the Senate upheld his impeachment on Monday.
In a special sitting held on Monday, 25 Senators out of 47 upheld the impeachment of the governor over alleged gross violation of the Constitution, as recommended by an 11-member Special Committee of the Senate.
Two Senators opposed the impeachment while four abstained.
Read: Ahmed Ali Muktar to be Sworn in as Wajir Governor Today
While recommending the removal of the governor from office, the Senate committee chaired by Nyamira Senator Okong’o O’mogeni said the Wajir MCAs had substantiated one out of 17 charges leveled against the county chief.
The committee noted that that the governor violated the right to health of the people of Wajir County.
“The committee finds that the allegation was proved and was therefore substantiated.
“The committee further found that the allegations meet the threshold for impeachment of the governor under Article 181 of the Constitution,” reads the report in part.
The Wajir MCAs had, among others, accused the governor of squandering Covid-19 funds and running down the health care system in the county.
Read Also: Senate Committee Recommends Impeachment of Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi
“A total of Sh2.92 billion was allocated towards improvement of the current health care system…. despite these colossal amounts…. Under the keen eye of the governor, the health system fell into disrepute, disrepair and failed as a whole,” Habaswein MCA Hussein Abdirahman Dahir, who testified against the governor, said in a sworn affidavit.
The Senate committee said that the MCAs failed to substantiate the second charge of abuse of office and gross misconduct.
Abdi is the third governor to be removed from office through impeachment.
The other two are Mike Sonko (Nairobi) and Ferdinand Waititu (Kiambu).
Governors, who have survived impeachments, in the past include Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Paul Chepkwony (Kericho), Granton Samboja (Taita Taveta) and Martin Wambora of Embu.
Unlike the rest, Wambora’s impeachment was upheld by the Senate. He moved to court and was reinstated in 2015.
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