In Summary
- Triumph for Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza as She Overcomes Impeachment, Once More.
- The hearing of the Governor’s impeachment case lasted two days.
- During the Senate’s two-day hearing for the embattled Meru Governor, Kawira Mwangaza, she gathered a strong team of nine lawyers and 4 witnesses to face off with the MCAs.
On Tuesday, Mwangaza confronted seven charges leading to her impeachment, steadfastly denying each one of them. She pleaded not guilty to the seven charges brought forth by county MCAs.
The Governor found it difficult to restrain her tears in the Senate Assembly, despite putting up a determined effort to defend herself against impeachment charges.
After an extended Senate plenary session that stretched into Wednesday night, all charges were dismissed in a vote, granting her a fresh start in the county.
A majority of the 47 Senators failed to support any of the seven charges presented by the County Assembly of Meru, which had unanimously voted to remove her from office. This marked the second time in a year that County Assembly Members attempted to remove her from office.
On the first charge of misappropriation and misuse of public resources, 28 senators acquitted the governor, while 19 senators found her guilty in the vote.
On nepotism and unethical practices, 42 senators sided with the governor, while five senators endorsed the allegations in the vote.
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In the third charge of bullying, vilification, and demeaning of other leaders, 44 Senators rejected the accusation, while three senators supported it.
Regarding the fourth charge of illegal appointment and usurpation of statutory powers, 26 senators opposed it, while 20 senators voted in favor. One Senator abstained from voting.
In the fifth charge of Contempt of Court, 44 senators absolved the governor, while three senators sided with the assembly on the allegation.
In the sixth charge, where the governor named a road after her husband, 43 senators rejected the charges, while four senators deemed the governor guilty.
In the seventh charge of contempt of the assembly, 36 senators unanimously declared the governor innocent, while 10 voted in favor of the Assembly’s claim.
Speaker Amason Kingi declared the official results of the voting exercise, stating, “The division results show that the Senate did not support any of the charges. Consequently, the Senate has not succeeded in impeaching the governor or removing her from office. Therefore, the governor will continue to hold office.”
The vote followed closely on the heels of the county chief’s final appeal to lawmakers, urging them to grant her a second chance.
“I humbly seek forgiveness from any leader in this house, in Meru, and across Kenya whom I may have wronged,” Mwangaza expressed, pleading with the house to safeguard her position.
She went on to appeal, saying, “Thank you and I pray that you give me a second chance.”
Voting was carried out through delegation, with only 47 senators, each representing their respective counties, participating in the process.
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The proceedings commenced on Tuesday when the Meru County Assembly presented their case. Subsequently, on Wednesday, the Governor, along with her lawyer, presented their defense against the impeachment charges. Over the course of these two days, emotions ran high as Mwangaza fought vigorously to counter the allegations.
The Senate held a hearing session for her impeachment trial, during which the governor was impeached following a favorable vote from 59 MCAs. The House deliberated on the evidence presented by the Meru County Assembly’s legal team and Mwangaza’s defense, among other issues. On Tuesday, she entered a plea of not guilty to all seven charges leveled against her by county MCAs.
Moses Kuria, the Public Service CS, earlier stated that the concerns raised against Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza are not sufficient grounds for her impeachment. He also cited a powerful Mount Kenya politician for the Governor’s troubles.
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The embattled Governor has now successfully weathered her second impeachment, the first one having been dismissed by the same Senate-Assembly last year.
