Senate Grills Governor Kawira Mwangaza

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza speaking during a meeting held in her County on April 22, 2023.
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza speaking during a meeting held in her County on April 22, 2023.
Photo
PCS

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza is defending herself before the Senate, seeking to convince lawmakers to nullify her impeachment which was passed by county MCAs.

The governor was accused of seven violations including misappropriation, misuse of county resources, and nepotism in county appointments.

Senate declined a motion to allow her hearing to be discussed by a select committee and directed her to appear before a plenary. 

Watch the proceedings live:

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The governor was tasked by the Senate to explain her slogan, "Kaende Kaende, Kabaki Kabaki"

The MCAs had complained that the slogan meant she did not care about issues raised by the electorate and other leaders. 

Kawira Mwangaza defended herself noting that the slogan was solely used as a development rallying call. 

The first-term governor was further grilled on the Okolea Programme which was alleged to be a conduit of embezzling county resources.

"Okolea Programme is a development project conducted by my family and church. The empowerment programs undertaken under the project do not utilise county funds," she defended herself.

Kawira further added that the County Majority Leader who had moved the impeachment motion had in the past supported the initiative.

A video clip played to the Senate showed the said MCA remarking in public that he was supporting the initiative with Ksh100,000. 

He further in the clip admitted that there was no budget allocated at the county for the Okolea Programme. 

The governor broke down to tears as the Senate replayed a clip of a group of angry youth slaughtering a cow she was donating to a vulnerable family.

She cried more after a clip of Tigania East Member of Parliament Aburi Mpuru remarking that the governor was not a native of Meru was shown to the parliamentarians.

Mpuru remarked that the county was lagging behind due to being led by a foreigner. 

A photo of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, and her deputy, Isaac M'Ethingia at an event in Meru County on November 10, 2022.
A photo of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, and her deputy, Isaac M'Ethingia at an event in Meru County on November 10, 2022.
Isaac M'Ethingia