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"id": 1367341,
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"content": "(xiii) Booklet of the Third Edition of the County Assembly of Meru Standing Orders. Hon. Senators, pursuant to Section 33(3)(b) of the County Governments Act and Standing Order No.80(1)(a) of the Senate Standing Orders, at the sitting of the Senate held on Tuesday, 31st October, 2023, the charges against the Governor of Meru County, as contained in the Motion of impeachment by the County Assembly of Meru were read to the assembled Senate. Hon. Senators, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to remind you of the mandate of the Senate in relation to the proposed removal, by impeachment, of a county governor as provided for under Article 181 of the Constitution as read together with section 33 of the County Governments Act, 2012 and Standing Order 80 of the Senate Standing Orders. In particular, Article 181 of the Constitution provides as follows- “(1) A county governor may be removed from office on any of the following grounds – (a) gross violation of the Constitution or any other law; (b) where there are serious reasons for believing that the county governor has committed a crime under national or international law; (c) abuse of office or gross misconduct; or (d) physical or mental incapacity to perform the functions of office of county governor. (2) Parliament shall enact legislation providing for the procedure of removal of a county governor on any of the grounds mentioned in clause (1)”. Section 33 of the County Governments Act, 2012, Senate Standing Order No.80 and the Third Schedule to the Senate Standing Orders provide for the procedure to be followed in the hearing and determination of the proposed removal from office, by impeachment, of a Governor. Specifically, section 33(3) and Standing Order No.80(1)(b) of the Senate provide that; “The Senate may - (i) by resolution, appoint a Special Committee comprising eleven of its members to investigate the matter; or (ii) investigate the matter in plenary.” Hon. Senators, you will recall that at the sitting of the Senate held on Tuesday, 31st October, 2023, the Motion for the establishment of a Special Committee was defeated. Therefore, this paved the way for the default position, the hearing of the impeachment charges against the Governor of Meru County to be held by the Senate sitting in Plenary. Hon. Senators, ladies and gentlemen, by way of a status update, pursuant to Rules 4(a) and Six of the Rules of Procedure, when considering the proposed removal of a governor in Plenary, the Senate invited the Governor to appear and be represented before the Senate during its investigation. Further, the Senate invited the Governor, if she so chooses to appear before the Senate, to file an answer to the charges with the Office of the Clerk of the Senate by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, 4th November, 2023, setting out the following- (i) The Governor’s response to the particulars of allegations. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}