Kawira Mwangaza impeached for third time

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza. [Phares Mutembei, Standard]

The Meru County Assembly has impeached Governor Kawira Mwangaza a third time after a motion was presented by Nominated UDA MCA Zipporah Kinya.

Out of 69 MCAs; 49 supported the motion, 17 opposed it, and three abstained.

This marks the third time the assembly has successfully impeached Governor Mwangaza, following two previous attempts that were halted by the Meru High Court.

In the impeachment motion, Kinya accused Mwangaza of three main offenses including gross violation of the Kenyan Constitution, violations of national and county laws, and abuse of office.

Many MCAs arrived at the assembly at dawn, with proceedings beginning around 10:30 a.m.

Abogeta West MCA Dennis Kiogora noted that members spent the previous night in the assembly, saying, "We slept on the floor of this assembly. Merus should know that."

There was a heavy police presence around the Assembly, and a brief scuffle occurred when MCAs allied with Governor Mwangaza attempted to gain entry, accusing the assembly of discrimination.

Speaker Ayub Bundi ruled that the impeachment motion was legally before the assembly despite a pending court case. He stated that the Governor had been invited to defend herself but had not responded. "Her Excellency is yet to heed the invitation," he said.

Bundi, a former Abothoguchi Central MCA, confirmed that 49 out of 69 MCAs signed the impeachment motion, meeting the one-third threshold required to proceed.

MCA Kinya alleged that Mwangaza committed gross misconduct by misleading the public about funds raised for the family of a murdered blogger, Daniel Muthiani alias Sniper. She claimed that the county boss falsely stated that Sh86 million was raised through a Paybill number, while only Sh286,516 collected.

Muthiani, a popular blogger, was abducted in Meru, and his body was found in neighboring Tharaka Nithi in December last year, igniting political tensions.

Kinya further accused Mwangaza of abuse of office by irregularly paying emergency call allowances to 161 doctors and medical officers, resulting in an excessive payout of Sh74,340,000. Additionally, she cited the use of a manual payroll for payments totaling Sh102.94 million, contrary to financial regulations.

Kinya also criticised Mwangaza for employing a bloated workforce in the Governor's Office, claiming this contributed to a wage bill exceeding 500 million shillings, which is 49 percent of the annual revenue allocation-well above the 35 percent limit.

"Mwangaza employed 111 personnel, 79 of whom were listed as cleaners-enough to clean the entire county, not just the Governor's Office," she said.

The Governor was also accused of illegal appointments and dismissals, including the alleged revocation of County Public Service Board CEO Virginia Kawira Miriti's appointment. "It is only this house that can revoke Virginia's appointment. It is illegal. It cannot be done in a government that is run well," she stated.

Mwangaza also faced charges of failing to appoint heads for the Meru County Development and Investment Corporation and Meru Microfinance Corporation.

Deputy Speaker Mwenda Ali argued that the governor ignored staffing recommendations by hiring excessive staff. "For there to be fairness and to end impunity, Mwangaza must go," he said.

Majority Whip Jim Muchui and Minority Whip Mwenda Ithili both supported her removal, citing poor revenue collection and a lack of health services as reasons for her impeachment.

17 MCAs defended Governor Mwangaza, including Kibirichia MCA Jacob Mwirigi, Joshua Mithiaru (Naathu), Ruth Kananu, and Kennedy Maingi (nominated), questioning the legitimacy of the impeachment process.

Mwirigi argued, "None of the counts would hold water," and criticised the public participation process as inadequate. "There was no qualitative and quantitative public participation. It is ridiculous," he said.

Ms. Kananu accused the assembly of wrongfully judging Mwangaza, stating, "They (the MCAs) are the ones who have sabotaged development in this county, not the Governor."

Mithiaru alleged the impeachment was orchestrated by individuals seeking to remove Mwangaza and install their proxies.