Mutuma likely to be sworn in on Monday after court upholds Mwangaza’s impeachment.
Meru deputy governor Mutuma M’Ethingia is likely to be sworn into office on Monday unless ousted Governor Kawira Mwangaza
secures staying orders of the high court at the court of appeal. Tomorrow being
on Saturday and next day Sunday it will be impossible for a Judgement of the
high court to conduct the swearing in thus until Monday or thereafter.
Meru Deputy Governor Isaac Mutuma M’ethingia
Justice Bahati Mwamuye sitting in Nairobi upheld the Senate decision to kick her out ofoffice in a judgement that was long waited. Justice Mwamuye ruled that the petition did not meet the threshold required to quash the impeachment and consequently, validated a gazette notice communicating her ouster from office.
“The senate did not defy any court order. The Senate followed the constitutional rules for impeachment.
The impeachment was not improper or unfair,” Justice Mwamuye ruled. This was Mwangaza’s third impeachment since she was elected into office in August 2022.
The first impeachment hearing was heard and determined by a committee, but the second and third went the plenary way. On August 21, last year, 26 Senators voted to uphold the first charge of gross violation of the constitution and other laws. Some 14 senators abstained, while four voted in her favor.
On the second charge of gross misconduct, 26 senators voted in favor of her impeachment, two against, while 14 others abstained. 27 senators upheld the charge of abuse of office, one voted against, while 14 abstained.
“Pursuant to Article 181 of the Constitution, Section 33 of County Government Act and Standing Order 86 of the Senate Standing Orders, the Senate has resolved to be removed from office by
impeachment Hon. Kawira Mwangaza, the Governor of Meru County and the governor
accordingly ceases to hold office,” Speaker Amason Kingi said.
49 Members of the County Assembly voted in favor of the motion. 17 other MCAs voted to have her retained as governor even as she is accused of abuse of office among other charges. The ouster bid was
tabled by nominated MCA Zipporah Kinya who called for her removal due to gross
violation of the constitution and misuse of public resources.
The members blamed the governor for failing to address the ongoing medics strike as
well as the county staff medical cover despite allocations of funds for their
medical needs.
Majority leader Patrick Mutuma accused the governor of being dishonest in her leadership post. “I thank the mover of this motion for coming up with such a motion when Meru County needs revolution. Our
governor has been taken to the senate several times where the Senate has tried
to teach our governor on conduct of leadership but she has proven that she
cannot be taught,” said Mutuma.
By Gerald Mukembu
