UDA MCAs withdraw support for Governor Mwangaza

Members of the Meru County Assembly allied to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party on Saturday, September 23 withdrew their support for Governor Kawira Mwangaza as they announced fresh plans to impeach the county boss over gross misconduct.

Addressing members of the press at Gatimene Gardens Hotel, the 27 MCAs said they had already signed an impeachment motion to kick out the governor in less than a month's time.

According to the ward representative, the motion has also received support from other like-minded members from the Party of National Unity (PNU), National Ordinary People Empowerment Union (NOPEU), Jubilee and Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP) 'Mbus' party.

Led by majority leader Evans Mawira, the MCAs are accusing Governor Mwangaza of lack of respect for other elected leaders.

The latest comes months after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua brokered a truce between the governor and the area MCAs after differences between the executive and the county assembly threatened to derail the devolved unit's development agenda.

The mediation talks followed the impeachment of Mwangaza by the county assembly through a motion filed by Abogeta West MCA Dennis ‘DMK’ Kiogora, making her the first county boss to be impeached barely three months after being sworn in.

All 67 MCAs present during the impeachment session voted to remove Mwangaza from office over abuse of office claims before she was saved by the Senate.

The MCA tabled several charges against the governor, including disrespect to MPs and nepotism.

Cracks emerged in the county leadership again recently characterised by a war of words between the governor, Senator Kathuri Murungi and a section of MPs. The rift has since escalated leading to Mwangaza's bitter fallout with her deputy Isaac Mutuma, whom he accuses of working with the leaders to derail her administration.

The differences turned ugly last Sunday after supporters of Mwangaza and the DG clashed during the governor's 'Okolea' charity event in Igembe South.

Following the incident, the DG was grilled for four and a half hours on Wednesday evening at the county DCI offices in Meru and was released on free bond.

Yesterday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, while speaking at Kiengu in Igembe North called on Mwangaza to also record a statement with the police before banning the Okolea programme scheduled for Sunday in Central Imenti.

'I dare you to try Me! Governor Kawira I am here to protect the lives of Kenyans so I cannot allow you to continue with meetings which are fueling chaos and insecurity among the people of Meru," Kindiki stated.

Mutuma who is now admitted at Karen Hospital Nairobi has been accusing his boss of relocating his office to another building without consulting him and sidelining him on county projects and programmes.

"She has been mistreating and frustrating me and the last time I spoke to her was in April this year Kawira does not even pick my calls. I am tired and now I don't fear her anymore because I am here to stay and serve the people of Meru," the deputy governor said recently.

The governor, however, denied the rift with her deputy, saying the matter had been blown out of proportion.

During a church service in Laare a fortnight ago, Mwangaza urged President William Ruto to intervene and restore peace in the region as she accused area MPs and the senator of plotting her ouster to prepare the ground for their selfish interests in the 2027 polls.

"I know my woes are being fueled and schemed by my opponents and my deputy is supporting them but I am telling the ten greedy MPs that Meru will not be ruled by them and they should accept that the governor is a fearless woman and I will continue to deliver services to the Meru people without being shaken or intimidated by anybody," Mwangaza said.

Senator Murungi has been vocal about the management of county affairs, saying he will form a committee to investigate how public funds are being utilised. But Mwangaza said the senator's oversight quest is not genuine and alleged that he is out to malign her as he eyes the governor's seat.

Now as the impeachment motion takes shape, several leaders including Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi, Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri and his Imenti central counterpart Kirima Guchine have come out to call on the DP to stay away from Meru politics.

"We are asking DP Gachagua to stay away from Meru politics and leave it to us because enough is enough we cannot have a governor who stands before the president to insult other elected leaders," Rindikiri said.