Sen Cleophas Malalah has today (Wednesday, 17 June) been unanimously elected to Chair the Special Committee established through a resolution of the Senate to consider the proposed removal from office, by impeachment, of the Governor of Kirinyaga County.

The midmorning meeting also saw Sen Abshiro Halake elected to deputize the Chair who also serves as Deputy Minority Leader. Sen Halake garnered five votes against Sen Mwangi Githiomi’s four.

“I want to assure the public and all interested parties that we shall conduct this process fairly and impartially. We shall give all interested parties an opportunity to present their submissions and retreat to make a fair judgment,” said Sen Malalah while making his acceptance remarks.

The 11-member committee shall in line with Section 33 of the County Governments Act “report to the Senate within ten days on whether it finds the particulars of the allegations against the Governor to have been substantiated.”

At the meeting, the committee approved a provisional programme that provided for immediate service of invitations to the Governor and County Assembly to appear before it. An interim period of three days shall be granted for parties to prepare respective submissions.

At the expiry of the interim duration, on Saturday 20^th June, 2020 at 5.00 pm, both parties will be expected to have filed submissions with the Office of the Clerk of the Senate paving way for a two day hearing on Tuesday 23^rd June and Wednesday, 24^th June.

The committee will then retreat to write its report on Thursday 25^th and present it at a Special Sitting that is tentatively scheduled for Friday 26^th June.

Other members of the committee include: Sen. Michael Mbito, Sen Mwangi Paul Githiomi, Sen. Beth Mugo, Sen. Anuar Loitiptip, Sen. Philip Mpaayei, Sen. Beatrice Kwamboka, Sen. Stewart Madzayo, Sen. Judith Pareno and Sen. Moses Kajwang’.