Nairobi News

Impeached Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza will on November 7, 2023, appear before the Senate in a last-ditch move to save her job.

This follows a move by the Senators to form a committee that will investigate her impeachment by the Meru County Assembly and decide on whether or not to endorse it.

It is the second time in less than 18 months that the county boss has been impeached by the County Assembly.

In the other instance, she was saved by a Senate committee chaired by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale.

Mwangaza was impeached on seven grounds including misappropriation and misuse of county resources, unethical practices, demeaning other leaders in the county, illegal appointments, usurpation of statutory powers, court’s contempt, and contempt of the assembly.

Article 181 of the Constitution on the removal of a County Governor gives four grounds that the Governor can be impeached on, which include gross violation of this Constitution or any other law, abuse of office or gross misconduct, and physical or mental incapacity to perform the functions of the office of county governor.

Nairobi News understands the county boss has lined up four witnesses and lawyers to defend her.

Mwangaza, who served as Meru Woman Representative between 2017 and 2022, was surprisingly voted in as Governor in the 2022 polls.

She defeated several political bigwigs to bag the seat including Kiraitu Murungi, the incumbent at the time, and Mithika Linturi who served as Senator but has since been appointed Agriculture Cabinet Secretary.

Mwangaza is the second sitting governor to be impeached on two occasions by the Members of the County Assembly. The other is former Embu Governor Martin Wambora who was, incidentally, rescued by the Senate on both occasions.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has assured Kenyans the Senare will follow the law in determining Mwangaza’s fate.

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