Five file petition to halt Mwangaza impeachment

The five petitioners are Bonface Koome, Wilfred Murithi Kiirma, Godfrey Kinoti Nturibi, Faith Wanja Andrew, and Joshua Mwirigi Mugiira.

They have named the respondents in the case as the County Assembly of Meru, assembly clerk, Speaker, MCA Evans Mawira, and Minority Leader Mwenda Ithili.

The petitioners said unless the court intervenes to address "the very clear abuse of authority by the County Assembly of Meru and MPs from Meru, as well as certain members from the national government (the Executive)," the removal of Mwangaza from office will constitute a significant breach of the Constitution.

This, they argued, would set a detrimental precedent for the independence of democratically elected officeholders, including independent candidates with no party affiliations.

Represented by Kiogora Mugambi and acting under a certificate of urgency, the five said the impeachment motion was incompetent, flawed, and grounded in incomplete investigations.

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Mwangaza 'baptism by fire' in first year in office
• 
  How Mwangaza survived the second impeachment attempt

The petition is currently in chambers, awaiting court directives, and is scheduled for review before Justice Thripsisa Cherere.

As the impeachment motion is slated for debate on October 25, Assembly Clerk Jacob Kirari has released a list of venues in nine sub-counties where the public participation forums will be conducted on October 23.

The petitioners said the clerk omitted Buuri East, Buuri West, Igoji, Kiengu, Tigania Central, Imenti East, Abogeta and Nkune/Mitunguu.

They said the process of removal of Mwangaza could not be undertaken to the exclusion of the public.