The High Court of Kenya on Monday, July 29, ordered that the impeachment motion against Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza be referred to the Njuri Njeke Council of Elders.
Members of the County Assembly (MCA) had filed a fourth impeachment motion against the governor.
President William Ruto commenting on the issue had ordered the MCAs and the governor to find an alternative dispute resolution mechanism and avoid the impeachment route.
"Njuri Njeke Supreme Council of Ameru Elders are hereby ordered to submit their resolution or lack of it on the dispute between the parties herein as directed by the President of the Republic of Kenya not later than three weeks from today," the Meru High Court ordered.
"Parties herein are directed to appear before NJURI NJEKE with their advocates before Wednesday, July 31, 2024."
The High Court ruled that as a way to promote alternative dispute resolution (ADR), as advised by the Head of State, no ruling would be issued regarding the impeachment motion at the time.
"Take notice that any disobedience or non-observance of the order of the court served herewith will result in penal consequences to you and any other person(s) disobeying and not observing the same," the ruling read in part.
Kawira Mwangaza had moved to court on July 24, to obtain orders stopping the MCAs from proceeding with the fourth impeachment motion.
The Meru Governor petitioned the court to halt the impeachment motion citing it was borne out of malice by her political detractors.
She added that her political rivals had forged signatures of MCAs who supported her so as to be able to attain the threshold to discuss an impeachment motion.
President William Ruto and other top leaders of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) asked Meru local politicians to show restraint and end the perennial disagreements and political conflicts.
Although elected as an independent candidate, Kawira Mwangaza joined UDA on April 3, which is the dominant party in the County Assembly of Meru.
