Leaders want Mwangaza to steer unity in county after sack flops

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has been urged to reach out to other leaders for the sake of unity.

On Friday, the Senate saved her from impeachment after the Meru County Assembly members had voted to kick her out.

The impeachment motion, which was sponsored by Abogeta West MCA Dennis 'DMK' Kiogora, was approved by all but one MCA.

Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi yesterday asked all leaders to come together and work for the sake of addressing issues affecting residents. "Leaders should bury their differences, embrace reconciliation and focus on service delivery. No one is perfect and it is through team work and synergy that we can all succeed".

Nominated MCA Gacheri Muthuri, like Kiogora, expressed dissatisfaction that the Senate had disagreed with their decision to fire Ms Mwangaza.

"I feel justice was denied. I would wish the report of the Select Committee was read for us to know the faults because we had good evidence. I am comfortable that the people of Meru know the truth," said Ms Muthuri.

Senator Kathuri Murungi, who sat through all the committee sittings, appealed to Ms Mwangaza to reach out to MCAs "so that you plan how to work together".

"With me as senator and other elected leaders, including MPs, we are going to forge unity and ensure that we work together for development of Meru," said Mr Murungi.

The senator appealed to the Devolution Committee to 'pitch camp' in Meru to build capacity to achieve success in development.

Incidentally, one of the 62 charges that Ms Mwangaza faced was vilification of area leaders, including Mr Linturi, Mr Murungi and Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi.

But the Senator Boni Khalwale-led committee said none of the leaders had made such complaints against the governor.

Meru Catholic Diocese's Father Elias Kinoti, who was brought in by the assembly to testify against her after she was cited for vilifying the Church, yesterday said it was upon the governor to do what is right now that the Senate had absolved her.

Fr Kinoti said the responsibility was now on Ms Mwangaza to reach out to all leaders to move the county in the direction voters wanted.

"All of us as leaders have no problem with her, but we have to be led in the right way. It is up to her to do what is expected of her. The responsibility lies on her to reach out to all leaders, there are serious issues to be addressed as voters want," he said.