Court Issues Demands as Meru Governor Challenges Impeachment Motion

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza .jpg
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza attends a roundtable meeting with United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J Mohammed on climate action on October 6, 2022.
Meru County

Meru County Governor Kawira Mwangaza moved to court on Thursday November 24, seeking to bar Members of County Assembly (MCAs) from debating an impeachment motion against her.

Meru High Court Judge Thripsisa Cherere certified the matter as urgent and set a hearing for Monday November 28, 2022. 

Justice Cherere also ordered the embattled governor to serve the County Assembly and Speaker Ayub Bundi, whom she named as her first and second respondents, respectively.

Through her lawyer Mutuma Gichuru, Mwangaza noted that permitting the motion to sail through would be unfair to her.

 

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza addresses an empty county assembly on Wednesday,October 19, 2022..jpg
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza addresses an empty county assembly on Wednesday, October 19, 2022.
Kawira Mwangaza

Meru MCAs had enlisted the matter for a plenary debate on Wednesday November 30, when they intend to decide on the fate of Bishop Mwangaza.

In what may appear as a pre-determined outcome, Meru MCAs on November 22, voted  68 out of 69 support to endorse a motion that is seeking to have Mwangza impeached.

She argued that the motion against her was incompetent as it was issued by the County Assembly deputy clerk, who signed off as the acting clerk, despite the seat lacking an official occupant.

Mwangaza urged the court to suspend letters issued by the deputy clerk inviting her to appear before the assembly for the impeachment motion.

The county boss asked the court to grant her conservatory orders suspending any action by MCAs and respondents upon the impeachment motion introduced on November 21.

Mwangaza strongly believed that the orders will hold off the shambolic process that was tabled out of malice and a clear disregard of the constitution and residents of Meru county.

She argued that the motion was moved by an accusation of subverting the Employment Act, an issue that was pending in the Employment and Labour Relations Court.

The governor who was elected on an independent ticket, explained that the genesis of her woes commenced the moment she confronted MCAs over the ward development fund.

Additionally she claimed that some MCAs had demanded Ksh5 million to facilitate the approval of County Executive Committee (CEC) nominees and were frustrated when she turned down requests to hire their favoured candidates.

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza with her husband Baichu Murega in matching outfits during their visit to Ruiri Rwarera ward on October 19, 2022
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza and first gentleman Baichu Murega in matching outfits during their visit to Ruiri Rwarera ward on October 19, 2022.
Meru County