Latest Updates: Wajir

Showing posts with label Wajir. Show all posts

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Court reinstates Abdi Mohamud as Wajir Governor

Eric February 17, 2022 0

The Meru High Court has nullified the impeachment of Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud by the County Assembly,terming his removal illegal.

In a ruling by a three judge bench composed of judges Justice Edward Muriithi, Patrick Jeremy Otieno and Thripsisa Cherere delivered virtually on Wednesday, the court noted that there was no public participation in the removal process of the governor.

According to the court, the county assembly did not provide evidence of public participation in the removal of Governor Mohamud.

Deputy Governor Ahmed Mukhtar, who has since taken over as Governor, has been directed to resume his initial deputy post for the remainder of the electoral term.

"Mohamed Abdi Mohamud was not removed from office legally... The swearing-in of Ahmed Mukhtar as the governor of Wajir and the appointment of Hashim Musa as deputy governor is therefore null and void," ruled the court.

Governor Mohamud was ousted on allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office and financial impropriety. Thirty-seven MCAs voted in favour of the impeachment motion while 10 opposed his removal from office in April 2021.

The Senate upheld the County Assembly's decision to remove him from office, prompting the Governor to seek redress in court.

Teacher Hashim Musa sworn in as Wajir Deputy Governor

Wajir

Eric September 09, 2021 0

Hashim Musa Yusuf a former secondary school teacher has been sworn in as the third Deputy Governor of Wajir .

The ceremony took place on Thursday at the county's ICT hall under heavy police presence.

In his acceptance speech Mr Yusuf promised to work hand in hand with Governor Muktar to ensure services are delivered to wananchi.

"I hereby affirm that I will work closely with the governor and work tirelessly around the clock to make sure our people’s expectations are not only met but exceeded,”

He also called on the County Assembly to unite with the county executive to not only foster peace but also developments.

“We need cooperation with all stakeholders including the county assembly, the national government through the county commissioner for a conducive environment for peace and development,” he said

The Ahmed Liban Mixed Secondary School teacher replaces Ahmed Ali Muktar who took over the leadership of the county following the impeachment of Governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud by the Senate in May.

His swearing in comes at a time power struggle has rocked the county after Mr. Mohamud secured a court order reinstating him to the office until a case he filed challenging his impeachment is heard and determined.

Ex- Wajir Governor presses on, insists he's still in power

Wajir

Eric May 25, 2021 0

Ousted Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud has maintained that he is still in office and performing his duties despite the Senate upholding his impeachment by the County Assembly and the subsequent swearing-in of his deputy Ahmed Ali Mukhtar.

Mohamud cited the court orders staying the decision made by the Senate and the status quo remains until a case he filed at the High Court is heard and determined.

However, the newly sworn-in Governor Ali Mukhtar has called on the impeached Governor to accept the Senate verdict and stop causing trouble.

" We all call on him to come on board as a citizen of this county and help us deliver to the people of Wajir, " said Governor Mukhtar.

Mr Mohamud who was impeached on grounds of gross violation of the constitution has attributed his misfortune to political difference further calling on his former deputy not to be used by the political cabals.

Ahmed Ali Muktar sworn in as Wajir Governor

Wajir

Eric May 18, 2021 0

Wajir Deputy Governor Ahmed Ali Muktar has been sworn in as the County's Governor after the Senate upheld the impeachment of Mohamed Abdi Mohamud.

Muktar took the oath of office at Midday at Wajir County Headquarters in a ceremony presided over by Justice Said Chitembwe.

He becomes the third Governor of Wajir County.

Mr Mohamud was ousted from office on grounds of gross violation of the constitution.

A total of 25 senators voted in support of his impeachment motion .

Two Senators voted against the motion while four abstained.

Wajir DG Ahmed Ali Muktar to be sworn in as Governor

Wajir

Eric May 18, 2021 0

Wajir Deputy Governor Ahmed Ali Muktar will on Tuesday take the oath of office following an announcement in the Kenya Gazette.

Mr Muktar will replace Mohamed Abdi Mohamud who was impeached over gross violation of the Constitution.

On Monday,a total of 25 Senators voted in favour of his ouster motion.

Two Senators voted against his ouster while four others abstained.

" The net effect of the vote is that Mr Mohamud has been impeached and he ceases to hold office, " Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka ruled after the vote.

Governor Mohamud has been found guilty of gross violation of the constitution.

While appearing before the Senate plenary on Monday evening, the Governor pleaded for leniency arguing that the claims by the Wajir County Assembly didn't amount to gross violation of the constitution.

“I wish to plead with the senators to be sympathetic and not just impeach me just because of one issue. It can be a violation of the Constitution but it is not a gross violation,” he stated.

Earlier an 11 member special committee composed of Senators Okong’o Omogeni (Chairperson), Susan Kihika (Vice Chairperson), Johnson Sakaja, Mwangi Githiomi, Christine Zawadi, Mithika Linturi, Hargura Godana, Fred Outa, Agnes Muthama, Petronilla Were and Issa Juma Boy recommended for removal of Governor Mohamud over gross violation of the Constitution claims.

Wajir County Assembly which was represented by Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi had accused the county boss of failing to provide the assembly with the quarterly expenditure reports and failing to account for resources allocated to the county.

Governor Mohamud in his defence said the Public Finance Management Act mandates an accounting officer to prepare each quarter financial year for submission to the County Treasury which in turn submits to the County Assembly within a month.

The assembly also accused the county boss of failing to account for the management of the county resources by incurring debts and obligations reportedly totalling to Ksh 2 billion

The Governor was represented by lawyers Paul Nyamondi and Ndegwa Njeru.

Wajir Governor Mohamed Mohamud impeached

Wajir

Eric May 17, 2021 0

Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud has been impeached.

A total of 25 Senators voted in favour of his ouster motion.

Two Senators voted against his ouster while four others abstained.

Governor Mohamud has been found guilty of gross violation of the constitution.

“I wish to plead with the senators to be sympathetic and not just impeach me just because of one issue. It can be a violation of the Constitution but it is not a gross violation,” he stated.

The assembly also accused the county boss of failing to account for the management of the county resources by incurring debts and obligations reportedly totalling to Ksh 2 billion

The Governor was represented by lawyers Paul Nyamondi and Ndegwa Njeru.

Senate committee recommends removal of Wajir Governor Mohamed Mohamud

Wajir

Eric May 17, 2021 0

An eleven-member Senate special committee has recommended the removal of Wajir Governor Mohamed Mohamud over fraud and abuse of office claims.

This comes just weeks after thirty-seven Members of the Wajir County Assembly voted in support of an impeachment motion while ten members voted against the motion.

The committee was composed of Senators Okong’o Omogeni (Chairperson), Susan Kihika (Vice Chairperson), Johnson Sakaja, Mwangi Githiomi, Christine Zawadi, Mithika Linturi, Hargura Godana, Fred Outa, Agnes Muthama, Petronilla Were and Issa Juma Boy.

The committee chair Senator Omogeni tabled the report on Monday.

The Assembly which was represented by Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi had accused the county boss of failing to provide the assembly with the quarterly expenditure reports and failing to account for resources allocated to the county.

The assembly also accused the county boss of failing to account for the management of the county resources by incurring debts and obligations reportedly totalling to Ksh 2 billion

The Governor was represented by lawyers Paul Nyamondi and Ndegwa Njeru.

Ahmednasir: Impeached Wajir governor's family should be summoned

Wajir

Eric May 12, 2021 0

Wajir County assembly's representative, Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi, requested the Senate committee probing Mohamed Abdi's ouster to summon the governor's wife and two children to testify in the case.

According to Abdullahi, Khaire Omar, Abdi's wife, and Yussuf Abdi and Barhiya Abdi, his son and daughter respectively, are critical in the case.

Furthermore, he also wanted Osman Abdi Jimale summoned since he has been a signatory and beneficiary of nearly all contracts awarded by the county government.

The senior counsel said, "The county assembly's case revolved around the Governor's family. The governor and his wife and children have played a critical role in degradation of governance in Wajir County."

However, through his lawyers Paul Nyamodi and Ndegwa Njiru, impeached Wajir Governor Mohammed Abdi on Wednesday opposed a request by the county assembly to summon his family members to testify in the case.

Nyamodi said, "As a matter of law, where as the three witnesses may be competent to testify against the governor, they are not compellable."

According to the other lawyer, Njiru, the county assembly is on a fishing expedition.

"If we are to summon the family to testify against their father, the legal and social question is the future of cohesiveness of the family?" Njiru questioned.

Abdi's lawyers went further to reject the request by the county assembly to provide a new affidavit by a witnesses, arguing that the move is prejudicial as the governor has not seen the new evidence.