kenGovernor Kawira Mwangaza’s tenure in Meru County has taken another tumultuous turn as the County Assembly voted to impeach her for a record third time.
The vote, held on Thursday, August 8, saw 49 out of 69 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) support the motion, which accused the governor of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and violation of the Constitution.
Deputy Majority Leader Zipporah Kinya, who tabled the impeachment motion, pointed to a series of alleged legal violations by Mwangaza. "The governor has blatantly disregarded the law, revoking appointments, and failing to act on crucial assembly resolutions," Kinya stated, underscoring the gravity of the charges against Mwangaza.
Among the accusations, Kinya highlighted the illegal revocation of Virginia Kawira's appointment as the secretary of the county public service board. "It is only the county assembly that has the mandate to revoke such an appointment," she asserted, further criticising the governor for failing to appoint key officials to vital county boards, thereby stalling essential services.
In a scathing indictment of Mwangaza’s conduct, Kinya accused the governor of misleading the public during a fundraiser for the family of Daniel Muthiani, popularly known as Sniper. Mwangaza had claimed that the event raised Ksh86 million, while records show that only Ksh286,000 was collected. “This gross exaggeration not only violates public trust but also placed the deceased’s family in potential danger,” Kinya added.
The motion also accused the governor of employing 111 workers, including 79 cleaners whose presence in the office is questionable. According to Kinya, these workers are paid through a manual payroll system, raising concerns about the transparency of the county’s employment practices.
Evans Mawira Kaaria, a vocal critic of the governor, defended Mwangaza, arguing that the grounds laid in the house do not meet the impeachment threshold. Mawira, who was a mover of a past motion, expressed to Kenyans.co.ke, frustration with his counterparts of the assembly.
“In fact, the weakest of all the motions that we have, of all the times that you have taken out to send it, there's the weakest motion of all. Because those grounds are unfounded, they don't meet the threshold. There's no way such reasons can take our governor home,” asserted Mawira.
The fallout from the vote is expected to be significant, as Mwangaza now faces a review by the Senate. The upper house will decide whether to uphold the assembly's decision or allow Mwangaza to remain in office. Some senators, however, have already voiced their displeasure with the ongoing conflict in Meru, with Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua suggesting that the county’s critical functions be transferred to the national government under Article 187 of the Constitution.
"If this circus continues, we may have to consider suspending the entire county government," Wambua remarked, emphasising the need for stable governance in Meru.
As the county braces for the Senate’s verdict, the political drama in Meru continues to cast a shadow over the delivery of essential services.
Mwangaza’s latest impeachment marks an unprecedented chapter in Kenya’s devolution history, with Meru now at the centre of a nationwide debate on the efficacy of county governance.
"The people of Meru deserve better than this," Kinya concluded, reflecting the sentiment of many who are eager to see an end to the county’s political infighting.
The Senate’s decision will not only determine Mwangaza’s fate but also set a precedent for handling similar cases in other counties.
