Reprieve for Mwangaza as Senate rejects impeachment
Besieged Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza on Friday, December 30, 2022, survived an impeachment motion after the Senate ruled that the allegations levelled against her by Meru Members of County Assembly (MCAs) were unsubstantiated.
The special hearing 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.
This means that the former Meru woman representative will continue serving as the county's head.
Mwangaza impeachment motion
Mwangaza 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.
Sixty-seven out of 69 MCAs voted to impeach the governor.
Mwangaza's feud with the ward representatives began when she offered her husband two county jobs a month after assuming office.
The former Meru woman representative appointed her husband Murega Baichu as Patron of the Meru Youth Service and Meru Hustlers Ambassador.
Despite defending that her husband would not draw a salary from the county, the ward representatives lashed out accusing her of nepotism and conflict of interest.
