Meru County Assembly Deputy Majority Leader tables motion to impeach Governor Kawira Mwangaza.

A new impeachment motion has been introduced against Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, marking the third effort to remove the first-term governor from office. The motion was presented on Wednesday by Meru County Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Zipporah Kinya.

Ward Representatives seeking Mwangaza’s ouster have accused her of three major offenses: gross violation of the Constitution, gross violation of various national and county laws, and abuse of office. Kinya highlighted that public petitions, including one signed by 1,611 residents, and numerous statements from county assembly members, have prompted the motion.

Kinya stated that several attempts to reconcile the issues raised by the public and assembly members have failed, making the fresh impeachment motion necessary. She argued that Mwangaza’s continued tenure has hindered efficient service delivery and brought disrepute to the offices of the governor, deputy governor, and the county assembly.

“Hon Speaker, the assembly therefore resolves to impeach the governor of Meru under Article 181 of the Constitution, Section 33 of the County Governments Act, and Standing Order No. 65 of the Standing Orders of the Assembly,” Kinya declared.

Mwangaza has faced impeachment twice before by the Meru County Assembly. However, the Senate dismissed the accusations due to insufficient evidence on both occasions. The first impeachment occurred in December 2022, just three months into her term, and was overturned by the Senate on December 30, 2022. The second impeachment took place on October 26, 2023.

Previous accusations against Mwangaza included misappropriation and misuse of county resources, nepotism, unethical acts, vilification of other leaders, illegal appointments, usurpation of statutory powers, contempt of court, and the illegal naming of a public road after her husband.

All 59 ward representatives present supported the motion tabled by Majority Leader Evans Mawira. The 10 MCAs who opposed the motion were not present in the assembly. An attempt by the governor’s lawyers to stop the debate on technical grounds was dismissed by Speaker Ayub Bundi.

Bundi noted that 64 out of 69 MCAs had signed the impeachment motion, meeting the required threshold for the proceedings to continue. As the controversy unfolds, the fate of Governor Kawira Mwangaza once again hangs in the balance