By Anchor Writer
Machakos County Finance, Economic Planning and Revenue Management CECM Catherine Mutanu has secured more time to prepare her defence after appearing before the County Assembly Select Committee investigating her proposed removal from office.
Mutanu, who appeared before the committee on Friday, told members she had only received the committee’s invitation and supporting documents at around 5.30 p.m. on Thursday, leaving her with insufficient time to consult her lawyers and prepare a comprehensive response.
“I am here to respond, but not for today,” Mutanu told the committee. “When I got the documents yesterday evening, I could not get my counsel. We are requesting more time so that we can prepare ourselves and give adequate responses to the allegations that have been made.
She asked the committee to defer the hearing until Monday, when she said she would appear alongside her legal team.
Committee Chairperson Francis Ngunga acknowledged the request, noting that the committee was operating under a strict statutory timeline of ten days to conclude its work.
“We are working under a very strict timeline. The mandate of this committee is only ten days, and we have already utilised some of those days,” Ngunga said.
He, however, said the committee was persuaded that Mutanu deserved a fair opportunity to prepare her defence, especially given the time she said she received the documents.
“We want to agree with you that we want to give you a fair hearing. We therefore rule that we will hear you on Monday. Please be here at 10 a.m. We shall be waiting for you,” he ruled.
Mutanu welcomed the decision and assured the committee she would attend as directed.”I appreciate, and I want to assure this committee that on Monday at 10 a.m. I’ll be here together with my counsels and their documentation,” she said.
Before adjourning the session, Ngunga urged the embattled county executive to focus her defence on the four grounds contained in the impeachment motion, saying the committee would base its determination strictly on evidence.
“We want to look at facts. We are not going to invite any pedestrian talk. There are four grounds, and those are the grounds that we are going to look at. Address yourselves to them,” he said.
The hearing marks the latest stage in the impeachment proceedings against Mutanu after the Machakos County Assembly approved a motion establishing the select committee to investigate allegations against her.
The committee is expected to hear Mutanu’s substantive defence on Monday before retreating to consider the evidence and prepare its report for presentation to the County Assembly within the legally prescribed timeframe.
Her appearence today ende fears that she could snub the committee after an assembly process server failed to have the summons received at Mutanu’s office on Wednesday.
Stay Anchored
