Kawira Mwangaza's Woes Deepen as Impeachment Motion Reaches Senate

Tribulations against Meru County Governor Kawira Mwangaza are set to continue after Meru County Assembly Speaker Ayub Bundi transmitted to the Senate the approved impeachment motion against the county boss on Thursday, December 15.

Meru County legislators voted on Wednesday, December 14, to remove Governor Mwangaza from office over alleged abuse of office, gross misconduct, and violation of the Constitution.

The Senate Speaker, Amason Kingi, now has seven days to reconvene the house for a special sitting just days after the members proceeded for a long recess.

Once the senate is recalled, the County Governments Act 2012 stipulates that the process senators are required to follow when hearing an impeachment motion against a governor.

Governor Kawira Mwangaza during an interdenominational service in Meru County on Sunday, December 4, 2022.

KAWIRA MWANGAZA

According to the Act, the Senate has the option of either forming a special committee of 11 Senators to probe the matter or considering the impeachment motion as a house.

“If the special committee reports that the particulars of any allegation against the governor have not been substantiated, further proceedings shall not be taken in respect of that allegation,” says Section 33 (6) (a) of the County Governments Act, 2012.

Should the Senate defeat the impeachment motion, it cannot be reintroduced on similar grounds, until after three months.

Suppose the special committee finds that the reasons for the ouster of the governor cited by the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) are weighty and proven, the committee can recommend the ejection of the governor.

However, the final verdict will be delivered by the Senate through a vote to either endorse the recommendation or reject it.

Furthermore, the County Government Act provides an opportunity for Mwangaza to defend herself before the whole house.

In the event that the house votes upholding the impeachment motion, the governor will cease her duties and responsibilities.

“If a vote in the Senate fails to result in the removal of the governor, the Speaker of the Senate shall notify the speaker of the concerned county assembly accordingly and the motion by the assembly for the removal of the governor on the same charges may only be re-introduced to the Senate on the expiry of three months from the date of such vote.” Section 33 (8) of the Act stipulates.

Among the reasons given by the MCAs to justify the impeachment include forceful entry into the county assembly and mobilizing unlawful riots against MCAs, engagement in nepotism, illegal appointments, unlawful dismissals, usurpation of constitutional and statutory functions, incitement, bullying, vilification and misleading campaigns against other leaders in the county.

The governor unsuccessfully tried to stop her impeachment proceedings through the court. She accused the MCAs of attempting to arm-twist her over the ward development fund.

Mwangaza is the first female Meru governor after trouncing political juggernauts, former Senator Mithika Linturi and former Governor Kiraitu Murungi.