Court reinstates Mohamed Abdi Mohamud as Wajir governor

The High Court in Meru has nullified the impeachment of Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud by the County Assembly, declaring that his removal from office was done irregularly.

In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, the court noted that the people of Wajir ought to have been involved in the removal process of the governor.

According to the court, the county assembly did not provide evidence of public participation in the removal of Governor Mohamud.

Deputy Governor Ahmed Mukhtar, who had taken over as Governor, was thus directed to resume his initial deputy post for the remainder of the electoral term.

“Mohamed Abdi Mohamud was not removed from office legally… The swearing-in of Ahmed Mukhtar as the governor of Wajir and the appointment of Hashim Musa as deputy governor is therefore null and void,” ruled the court.

Governor Mohamud was impeached on allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office and financial impropriety. Thirty-seven MCAs voted in favour of the impeachment motion while 10 opposed his removal from office in April 2021.

The Senate upheld the County Assembly’s decision to eject him from office, prompting the Governor to seek redress in court.