Muslims faithful in Garissa joined their colleagues around the world to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, one of the holiest occasions in the Islamic calendar.
The Eid prayers held at the KWS prayer grounds attracted hundreds of worshipers who complied with the coronavirus protocols and restrictions
Garissa Governor, Ali Korane, who attended the prayer session later told a press briefing that the recent motion to impeach the County Assembly Speaker, Ibrahim Abass, come Tuesday next week was futile.
Korane said that the motion to impeach Abass ‘has no basis but rather a scheme by a few politicians who want to disrupt the operations of the Assembly’.
Yesterday, 36 Member of the County Assembly (MCAs) signed a petition to impeach the speaker accusing him incompetence and gross misconduct, noting that he had ‘resorted to running the House business like a kiosk in total disregard of the procedures’.
“So far there is no one who has told us what the Speaker has done to warrant his removal. This motion will fail because we are going to garner the numbers,” Korane said.
The Governor urged the elders to intervene and resolve the matter that he noted ‘is threatening to disrupt smooth operations of both the County Assembly and the Executive and service delivery to citizens of Garissa.
“We distributed the top positions in this County to the three clans. One for the County Secretary, Chair for County Public Service Board and the other for the County Speaker. It is unfair to purport to remove the Speaker from office. I will personally not allow that to happen,” he added.
Maalimin MCA, Mohamud Aden, the mover of the motion together with the MCAs are also accusing the Speaker of gross violation of the Constitution.
Addressing the press outside the Chambers, yesterday, Aden who read the statement on behalf the MCAs, said that they have already served the Clerk to the Assembly, who will in turn notify the Speaker of their intention to impeach him.
“Today we the undersigned Members of County Assembly have officially filed a notice of motion by way of impeachment in accordance with Constitution of Kenya 2010 Article 73, 75, 178, 201, 232, The Section 7 of County Government (Amendment) act 2020, section 21 (5)(c) of the elections,” read the statement.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Muslim faithful held their Eid celebrations in line with the strict Ministry of Health protocols on Covid-19.
On Monday, the Department of Health in Garissa issued guidelines and protocols to be observed in mosques and prayer grounds across Garissa County, during today’s celebrations.
Issuing the guidelines, the Health Chief Executive (CEC), Roble Nunow, said that social distance of 1.5 to 2 meters must be clearly marked at all places of congregation, adding that all ablution blocks will be closed.
The congregants were advised come to with their own prayer mats mushraf and or download Quran apps on their mobile devices since there would be no use of the normal Kitabs.
Children below 13 years and the elderly above 58 years, individuals with underlying health conditions, were not be allowed into the prayer grounds and mosques.
By Erick Kyalo and Jacob Songok
