In a unanimous decision, the Meru County Assembly has impeached Governor Kawira Mwangaza, marking the second motion for her removal from office. All 59 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) present during the Wednesday evening session voted in favor of the motion, while ten MCAs were absent.
Governor Mwangaza, a first-term independent candidate, faces a litany of allegations, including the misuse of public funds, gross misconduct, and contempt of both the county assembly and court.
In an earlier legal maneuver, the Court of Appeal in Nyeri declined to halt the Meru County Assembly’s debate on Governor Mwangaza’s removal motion. The governor had sought relief from the appellate court to prevent her impending impeachment. However, the court postponed its ruling on the matter until Friday, October 27, 2023.
This development marks the second effort by Meru County MCAs to oust Governor Kawira, with whom they have had ongoing conflicts since her assumption of office. She previously faced impeachment by the Assembly in December 2022, but an 11-member Senate Special Committee appointed to investigate the grounds for her impeachment found that none of the charges against her had been substantiated.
Now, Mwangaza’s fate lies once again in the hands of the Senate, which will decide whether to uphold or overturn the impeachment. The Senate may opt to establish a special committee of 11 Senators to further investigate the matter or consider the impeachment motion within the House.
