Watch out! Ruling on Petition Will Be a Test for Supreme Court Judges’ Integrity

Petitioner Lenny Kivuti (left) shakes hands with the
incumbent Embu Governor, Hon. Martin Wambora

The outcome of the Embu County 

gubernatorial election petition, whose ruling is expected on Wednesday 30 January, 2019 at the Supreme Court, will have more than political implications. For one, it has provided yet another supremacy battlefront for the two senior counsels; Ahmednasir Abdullahi for Governor Martin Wambora and Prof. Tom Ojienda for former senator Lenny Kivuti. As much as the two leaders have of late shown some high level of harmony and mutual respect, the ruling is expected to mark either the beginning of a peaceful reign for Governor Wambora or some kind of cold war between the politicians' supporters. 

There is More Than Meets the Eye in the Embu Gubernatorial Petition 

Senior counsels Ahmednasir Abdullahi (with fingers crossed) and Prof. Tom Ojienda

Though the two courtroom brawlers have much in common, their thinly veiled sense of competition is well known in both political and judicial circles. First, let us examine what they share in common:

First of all, both Mr Abdullahi and Prof Ojienda run two of the 

biggest law firms in Kenya. That is Ahmednasir, Abdikadir & Company Advocates and Prof. Tom Ojienda & Associates Advocates, respectively. Secondly, they are known to love taking on high profile cases, of which the aforementioned petition is no exception. Thirdly, both graduated from the University of Nairobi’s Law school and got admitted to the Roll of Advocates in the same year, 1993, after completing their Kenya School of Law diplomas. Again, both are senior counsels who have earned the title for their service to the legal fraternity, having served as former chairmen of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).

The two have a long history in Kenya’s legal circles where Prof Ojienda has twice succeeded Mr Abdullahi, and this seems to have gone a long way in cementing their contention. In 2014, the two clashed in a vote by lawyers to elect their representative to the powerful Judicial Service Commission (JSC) – the body that, among other duties, is charged with recruiting judges and magistrates as well as disciplining them. It is this role that Mr. Abdullahi seems not to have let go, even after his ouster, which in turn poses possible danger to Governor Wambora’s defence. 

Some of the Supreme Court of Kenya judges, headed by Chief Justice David Maraga (center)

The man may have watered down his chances of an unbiased outcome when in December 2018 he appeared before the Supreme Court judges and made a scathing attack against them. When asked by the judges, led by Chief Justice David Maraga to withdraw the submissions they deemed ‘offensive’, he said, “I am not withdrawing. Let my submissions go the way they are” (2018, December 16), Daily Nation. Now the question is: Would the Supreme Court Judges use this petition to teach the Grand Mullah a lesson and show him that he is not as smart as he thinks?

NEW SERIES - #3: DEPUTY PRESIDENT WILLIAM RUTO Can Attest to the Development Record of Embu County

Embu governor Hon. Martin Wambora (second right) when he received Deputy President Hon. William Ruto in Embu on 25 October, 2018

A Glorious Past Points to a Bright Future in the Land of Opportunities

Though it has been argued that it is not advisable to keep on recalling things that happened in the past, some things are just too noble to let go without revisiting.  It is therefore with nostalgia that Raslimali Embu reminds you of some of the work that has been done in the last one year; some of which may have escaped the attention of many. In previous publications on this online newsletter, we highlighted some of the achievements accomplished by the current county government in the month of December 2018 (New Series #1) and November of the same year (New Series #2). Going forward, we hereby point out some of the major steps taken in the right direction by Embu County government in the month of October, 2018.

On 25 October 2018, Embu governor, Hon. Martin Wambora hosted Deputy President H.E Hon. William Ruto, whereby he was joined by the entire county leadership, renowned academicians and other dignitaries in launching of an Endowment Fund to cater for needy students at the University of Embu. The occasion, during which the Deputy President laid a plaque commemorating the official opening of the Prof George Magoha library, was an indication of the esteem in which the government holds education as a key driver of future prosperity.

Later in the day, agriculture, trade and industry were recognized when the DP commissioned PrivamNuts EPZ Kenya Limited, a model macadamia value addition factory in Embu County. On 22 October, the government distributed certified green grams seeds (N26 Variety) a process that was carried out in 8 wards in Mbeere North and Mbeere South sub-counties. On this matter, governor Wambora said that his government was set to distribute the seeds to over 2500 households, to boost food production in line with the national government's big 4 Agenda on food security.

The flagging off of the free medical camp in which drugs worth ksh31 million were distributed 

On health, the government recognizes that health is wealth. In this regard, the Department of Health distributed medicine worth 31million to 94 health facilities across the county on 8 October. The Department of health together with a number of partners proceeded with a medical outreach program with free medical camps at Dallas, Shauri and Grogon before holding a mega Medical Camp at Embu Stadium.

These are just but a few among many other notable accomplishments by the county government, that clearly indicate that the people of Embu can look forward to better times in future.

NEW SERIES - #2: POLITICAL CHAOS WERE AIMED at Fooling the Common ‘Mwananchi’

Embu governor, Hon. Martin Wambora (right) when he hosted the Cabinet Secretary, Health, Ms. Sicily Kariuki in Embu on 23 November, 2018.

Regardless of All the Ado, There is Much to be Celebrated

Looking at the subtopic to our previous article in this series; ‘Harmonious Relationship between the Executive and the County Assembly’, one would be tempted to think that the author was being intentionally satirical. What with the events that followed barely a week later, in the so called land of opportunities? Were it not for the unfortunate incident at 14 Riverside Drive in Nairobi during the week (news about the attack obliterated everything else), the County Assembly of Embu would probably have made it to the headlines; for the wrong reasons again – rising against the Executive!

 

The demonstration by some Embu MCAs as covered by Reuben Githinji

No sooner had the cooperation between the two arms of the government lauded, than some enemies of development fabricated tales that saw a number of MCAs take to the streets in protest against governor Wambora (see story above). The war has not been directed to the governor alone but also to some members of both the Executive and the Assembly who are known to work closely with him. Sources close to the ‘masterminds’ behind the sabotage have revealed that the reason why they keep fighting governor Wambora is that he will not steal, and he will not let them steal either. They have likened him to one who stands at the doorway; he won’t get in, neither will he let others get in. ‘Getting in’ in this case means engaging in corruption. As such, there have been rumors of an impending impeachment motion against the governor, but judging by the man’s past triumphs; such a move would only culminate to efforts at futility.

Even so, let it not escape your attention that the government of the day is as stable as never before. Considering some of the major milestones reached in the just concluded year, it goes without saying that serious work is being done. As much as some crooked politicians want to paint quite a bad picture of this government for their own selfish gains, any enlightened person would not fail to take note of the following:

Governor Wambora (center) addresses the press when he flagged
off Phase 2 of free medical supplies to Level 4 Hospitals in 
Embu County. With him is Deputy Governor David Kariuki (left), 
Health CEC, Dr. Jamleck Muturi (right) and representatives from 
Medical Supply Chain MEDS, among other practitioners in the 
medical profession. He also inspected the magnificent newly 
constructed Badea Complex at Embu Level 5 Hospital, 
shown in the photo below:   

On 7 November 2018, together with representatives from Medical Supply Chain MEDS and the Department of Health, Governor Wambora flagged off Phase 2 of free medicine for level 4 Hospitals all through the county. Later on, he inspected the newly constructed Badea Complex at embu Level 5 Hospital. The building is a 120 bed capacity complex for inpatient treatment, and an Oncology Unit. Cancer patients undergoing Chemotherapy as well as Cancer Screening will all be done at Embu Teaching and Referral Hospital. It can be confirmed that Chemotherapy Chairs, Hood Machines, trained staff to handle patients and other equipment are already in place.

Governor Wambora (in suit) in a group photo with Executives and senior staff members outside the magnificent Badea Complex at Embu Level 5 Teaching and Referral Hospital on 7 November, 2018.

This effort was in one way rewarded with national recognition when on 23 November 2018; Governor Wambora hosted the Cabinet Secretary, Health, Ms. Sicily Kariuki. It was on the event that marked the launch of Kenya Aids Response Progress Report 2018. Later, the governor received a motor vehicle, a motor cycle and 44 refrigeration units for Kenya Expanded Programme on Immunization (KEPI), to help vaccinate children under 5 years from Embu County and its neighbors. The exercise was carried out in concerted efforts to achieve the president’s Agenda 4 on Universal Health.

On 21 November the same year, the governor had officially opened the Annual Regional Business Development Services Conference. The theme of the Conference was: “The Role of Innovative BDS for Inclusive Market Transformation”. Speaking during the event, Hon. Wambora urged the BDS practitioners to constantly innovate so as to spur agribusiness and agro-processing in East Africa. In his own words;

Governor Wambora addresses Annual Regional
Business Development Services Conference 
on 21 November, 2018.

“I am sure with continuous innovation, we can generate more polished goods for the markets, thereby creating jobs and generating wealth. I am impressed by Micro Enterprises Support Programme (MESPT), European Union (EU) Department for International Development (DFID) Global Communities among other BDS Donor Coordination Group (BDCG) members for the complimentary work they are doing in counties especially in empowering and promoting Kenyan farmers, with Embu being one of the key beneficiaries”.

The above are only three out of several development projects that the county government has undertaken under Governor Wambora’s leadership. It is also good to note that all this happened in the month of November 2018 only. Subsequent articles on this series will highlight many other achievements accomplished by the government earlier – since Governor Wambora took the helm for a second time.

NEW SERIES - #1: THE YEAR THAT WAS, in the ‘Land of Opportunities’