Meru MCAs Initiate Another Impeachment Motion Against Kawira Mwangaza

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza during her swearing- in Ceremony on August 26, 2022.
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza during her swearing-in Ceremony on August 26, 2022.
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Meru County

Members of the Meru County Assembly have initiated another motion seeking to impeach Governor Kawira Mwangaza. 

In a notice seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the MCAS once again accused the embattled governor of irregular appointments, nepotism and unlawful dismissal of county officials. 

"Take notice that pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order No. 65 (2) I, Dennis Kiogora a Member of the County Assembly of Meru representing Abogeta West and the Minority Chief Whip proposes to move the following motion in the County Assembly of Meru," Kiogora, the Minority Whip in the Assembly read as he proposed the motion. 

Governor Kawira Mwangaza during an interdenominational service in Meru County on Sunday, December 4, 2022..jpg
Governor Kawira Mwangaza during an interdenominational service in Meru County on Sunday, December 4, 2022.
Kawira Mwangaza

Key among the accusations levelled against Mwangaza include appointing her husband, Murega Baichu, as the Patron of the Meru Youth Service without conducting a transparent and competitive recruitment process. 

The motion also expressed reservations against Baichu's appointment to be the Meru Hustlers Ambassador, which the proponent termed as a non-existent post. 

Kiogora described the move to appoint Baichu as a gross violation of the County Governments Act and other laws pertaining to the appointment of government officials.

In addition, the motion tabled on the floor accused Governor Mwangaza of making appointments in a roadside rally at Timau in the county. 

Other allegations tabled against Mwangaza include the appointment of county officials in a roadside rally and subjecting officers to humiliation. 

According to the mover of the motion, the aforementioned allegations threatened to affect the functionality of the county government and therefore necessitated her prompt ouster.

The attempt came six days after Meru High Court nullified the first motion tabled by the Assembly. 

In a ruling made on Wednesday, November 30, the High Court ruled that MCAs had not followed due procedure in their attempt to impeach Mwangaza. 

Further, the judge ruled that the procedure used to prosecute Mwangaza's ouster motion threatened to violate her rights and, as such, the court had an obligation to prevent any event of a violation. 

In response to the quashed impeachment, the embattled county chief had vowed to make peace with the county legislators and apologized to them. She also vowed to remain steadfast despite the myriad of hurdles facing her government since her inauguration. 

The governor was caught at loggerheads with the MCAs shortly after her swearing-in as the county's third governor.  On Sun day, December 4, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua promised to intervene in finding a standing solution to the tribulations facing Mwangaza. 

A collage of DP Rigathi Gachagua and Kawira Mwangaza during an interdenominational service in Meru County on Sunday, December 4, 2022.
A collage of DP Rigathi Gachagua and Kawira Mwangaza during an interdenominational service in Meru County on Sunday, December 4, 2022.
Kawira Mwangaza