Jubilation as Governor Mwangaza, Meru MCAs bury the hatchet
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza was on Monday, February 20, accorded a warm reception to the County Assembly after over five months of a protracted row with ward representatives.
The county boss was received with hugs and smiles and thereafter held a closed-door meeting with the MCAs at the assembly where they resolved to work together for the benefit of Meru residents.
Addressing the media after the meeting, an elated Mwangaza, who was last year impeached by the MCAs over a feud over Ward fund, said each ward rep will now get Ksh10 million for development.
"We have resolved that Meru is bigger than any individual. We will work with what we have now. This has been done in the interest of the people," Mwangaza remarked.
"Those who were happy because of our wrangles let them find something else to do," she added.
Meru County Assembly Speaker Ayub Bundi said the MCAs had agreed to drop their demand for Ksh25 allocation to each ward and focus on using the current budget.
"We have now admitted that Mwangaza is the political leader of Meru. From Tuesday, we will accompany the governor on her development tour and support her in delivering to the people. The differences have been put aside," Bundi said.
The Monday talks between the governor and the MCAs were spearheaded by Meru Woman Representative Karambu Kailemia on directions by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who last month met the MCAs and the Governor separately with the aim of brokering a truce between them.
Mwangaza survived impeachment at the Senate on December 30, 2022, after a Special Senate committee formed to probe allegations levelled against her by the MCAs found her innocent.
The committee chaired by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale made the verdict stating that none of the six charges and 62 grounds fronted were proved.
"After the consideration of charges made against Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, all 11 members of the Special Senate Committee agreed and recommended that none of the charges was proved," Khalwale stated.
The county head was impeached after just 112 days in office with all MCAs present at the assembly voting unanimously to have the first-term governor removed from office.
The MCAs wanted Kawira out of office over alleged gross misconduct, the appointment of her husband to the county office and claims over the dismissal of county officers.
Other grounds were forceful entry into the Assembly precincts and mobilisation of unlawful riots against members of the Assembly, violation of public finance management law, and misconduct relating to the nomination of County Executive Committee (CEC) members.
The governor was also accused of disregarding the criteria for the establishment of offices within the county public service including failing to submit her husband’s name for approval by the Assembly before appointing him.
