Impeached Wajir Governor storms his office armed with a court order » Capital News

NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 8 – Wajir County has been thrown into yet another confusion after impeached Governor Mohamed Abdi stormed the County with court orders, sanctioning his return.

On Tuesday, the former Governor who was accompanied by Wajir East Member of Parliament Rashid Kassim made a tour of Wajir town where he addressed a his supporters.

“I am happy today to be accompanied by Kassim and other leaders from Wajir who are here to witness my return to the office by law, not by force. I would like to tell the people of Wajir to forget about what happened and focus on the problems of our people such as the ongoing drought,” said Abdi.

The former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, was kicked out of office in May after a special committee of the Senate recommended his removal over abuse of office and other charges.

His controversial return to office comes at a time when the county is preparing to swear in a new Deputy Governor Hashim Musa Yusuf who was recently nominated by Governor Ahmed Ali Muktar who took over when Abdi was impeached. He was his deputy.

Abdi called on the residents and other leaders to desist from petty politics and allow him perform his duties as the elected Governor.

The former governor said that Muktar who is currently serving as the governor will revert to his role as deputy governor until the court decides on the issue.

“This other issue that another young man is being appointed as the deputy governor is not acceptable by law,” Abdi said.

Wajir East legislator who also spoke stated that the return of Abdi is good news.

“Today we have witnessed the return of Mohamed Abdi Mohamud as the duly elected Governor of Wajir County. The courts have made a decision and have confirmed through the orders we have been served so that Mohamud can continue to serve as the governor of Wajir until the matter is resolved in the High Court,” he said.

Kassim called on the current leadership to comply with court orders.

The senate committee chaired by Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni found the former governor guilty of gross violation of the Constitution, County Governments Act, Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act and the Public Finance Management Act.

Following the decision by the Senate, Mohamud moved to court to challenge his ouster. 

The court granted stay orders which directed that he remains the governor until the case is heard and determined. However, his deputy Ali Ahmed Muktar was sworn in as the county’s third governor.

Abdi has maintained that he is still the governor despite his removal from office. In defiance, Abdi also attended the Council of Governors meeting a few days after his impeachment. The meeting was also attended by Muktar.

During the meeting, The Council of Governors Chairperson Martin Wambora stated that the governor’s ouster was a political witch hunt terming the process illegal.

In his defense, the Council claimed that the Senate disobeyed court orders preventing the County Assembly and Senate from discussing the impeachment motion.

The return of Abdi has elicited mixed reactions from a section of residents and Kenyans.

In a tweet, one of the lawyers who represented the Wajir County Assembly

Lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi who represented the Wajir County Assembly termed the move by the embattled governor a a “national shame”.

“This a circus and national shame. Former Wajir Governor got himself a fake and forged court orders and then gets himself a fake number plate and storms County offices this morning. So, the impeachment by the Senate is wished away?” tweeted Abdullahi.