Kawira Mwangaza boarded police vehicle willingly, Police IG Koome says

Governor Kawira Mwangaza sitted in a police Landcruiser on October 18.[George kaimenyi,Standard]

Authorities have dismissed claims of Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s arrest yesterday at an event in Ruiga, Meru.

In a statement dated Thursday, October 19, Inspector General Japheth Koome said that the arrest allegations were false, noting that the governor had boarded the police vehicle willingly.

“The police wish to clarify to the public that the Meru Governor on her own volition, boarded a police vehicle and thereafter voluntarily disembarked from the same vehicle,” Koome stated.

The National Police Service (NPS) has responded following a call from the Council of Governors (COG) for them to take action on the officers who allegedly conducted the arrest.

“The Council of Governors calls upon the Inspector General of Police to issue a public apology to Mwangaza for the embarrassment, inconvenience, public humiliation, and ridicule that she was subjected to by the police officers. We also urge the police IG to take disciplinary action against all the officers involved in the arrest,” Ahmed Abdullahi, COG Vice chairperson said.

Governors have accused the security officers of being used to settle political scores, stating that an attempt to establish the reasons for Mwangaza’s arrest was not answered.

“The case of mistaken identity therefore presented by the police is laughable. We strongly condemn such bullying and intimidation and reiterate that the governor’s office must be respected,” said COG.

Mwangaza who was running her Okolea outreach program in Ruiga, Imenti Central on Wednesday was disrupted while distributing cows to locals.

She then boarded a police land cruiser but the officers refused to start the vehicle.

Mwangaza then took to her social media handles claiming; “I am under arrest. The police officers don’t want to take me to the police station. I have been held in a police car for two hours now.”

The governor has also demanded a probe into the incident asking for those liable to be held accountable.

The Meru governor is not new to controversy; she is currently facing a second impeachment motion tabled against her by Meru MCAs.