Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza appeared before the Senate on Tuesday, where she entered a plea of not guilty to the seven charges brought against her by county MCAs.
The Senate Clerk, Jeremiah Nyegenye, read out the charges as impeachment proceedings commenced.
The Senate had previously approved a procedural motion to alter the session hours for November 7 and 8 to accommodate the hearings on Governor Mwangaza’s proposed removal from office through impeachment.
Majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot introduced the motion, seconded by Kilifi senator Steward Mwadzayo, and it was unanimously approved by members.
As a result, senators will convene from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm for the morning sessions and from 2:30 pm until the close of business for the afternoon sessions on the designated days.
The decision to conduct the hearings in plenary sessions was reached after members rejected a motion put forth by Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina, who advocated for a committee to investigate the impeachment allegations against the governor.
Governor Mwangaza was impeached by 59 MCAs last Wednesday, with the Senate now tasked with reviewing the allegations. If proven, these charges could lead to her removal from office.
The charges against Governor Mwangaza include misappropriation and misuse of public resources, paying salaries and benefits to high-ranking officers without providing services, nepotism, unethical practices, bullying and demeaning other county leaders, illegal appointments, usurpation of statutory powers, contempt of court, illegally naming a public road after her husband, and contempt of the County Assembly.
