Following the Meru County Assembly's resolution to impeach Governor Kawira Mwangaza on Wednesday, the spotlight has now been trained on her Deputy Isaac M'Ethingia who is on the cusp of ascending to the top seat in the event the Senate upholds the ouster.
Interestingly, Mwangaza and M'Ethingia don't see eye to eye with the Governor accusing her Deputy of undermining her at the behest of Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi.
Another interesting development is the decision by a section of Meru leaders to throw their weight behind the Deputy Governor as the next County chief.
Who is He?
M'Ethingia was born into a prominent family in Meru and is the son of former Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders chairman Paul M'Ethingia.
The Deputy Governor rose to public limelight in August 2022 after Mwangaza trounced Meru political titans such as Former Governor Kiraitu Murungi and Linturi to clinch the Gubernatorial seat.
Before venturing into politics, M'Ethingia served in the Kenya Prisons Service for 19 years as a Senior Sergeant and Social Welfare Officer.
He has also, in the past served as a Methodist Churches of Kenya reverend.
He holds a Higher Diploma in Forensic Psychology and Criminology from the Kenya Institute of Studies in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor's Degree in Theology from Kenya Methodist University.
M'Ethingia is currently a student at Mount Kenya University undertaking a Master's Degree in Governance and Ethics.
"Notably, he served as a Child Rights Advocate with Plan International, Chairman of several esteemed Institutions, Youth Representative for Habitat for Humanity in the Mount Kenya Region, and Human Rights Officer and Inmate Rehabilitation Program Implementer within the prison services," read his profile on the county website.
"His diverse range of responsibilities showcases his versatility and capacity for impactful change."
As the County deputy boss, he is Mwangaza's principal assistant tasked with helping her fulfill her manifesto.
Mwangaza Impeachment
Mwangaza was impeached by the members of the Meru County Assembly on Wednesday.
All 59 MCAs present at the debate voted in favour of her impeachment.
The Governor is accused of misappropriation of County funds, nepotism, bullying, and gross misconduct among other violations.
The matter now moves to the Senate which will either uphold or dismiss the charges leveled against her in accordance with Article 181 of the 2010 Constitution.
Wednesday's resolution was the second time that Meru MCAs were impeaching Mwangaza. In December 2022, she survived another impeachment motion after the Senate dismissed the accusations levelled against her.
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