Court suspends Governor Waiguru ouster motion debate

Bernice Mbugua @BerniceMuhindi

The High Court has suspended debate on the impeachment motion against Governor Anne Waiguru tabled by MCAs.

The motion tabled last week was due for discussion at the Assembly today.

 But Justice  Weldon Korir yesterday ruled that proceedings against the governor during the Covid-19 crisis was likely to violate her rights to fair administrative action.

“I appreciate the fact that the respondents are executing their constitutional mandate.

However, by failing to take into account the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on its operations, the respondents have chosen a path that will surely result in the violation of constitutional rights and principles of the petitioner,” he ruled.

The judge also noted that adequate and meaningful public participation should be undertaken whenever a county Assembly starts the process of impeaching a governor which will not be possible with coronavirus pandemic.

The judge, however, declined to stop proceedings of the Kirinyaga County Assembly as sought by two MCAs in a separate petition saying the court has no powers to adjourn the sittings of a county Assembly.

He said the orders shall remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the petition.