Governor Kawira Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ as impeachment trial goes on at the Senate
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has denied all charges leveled against her by the Meru County Assembly.
Kawira is facing various charges for her removal as governor, which was supported by 67 out of 69 MCAs.
Appearing before the 11-member Senate Special Committee probing her ouster, the embattled county boss denied all accusations levelled against her by the Meru County Assembly.
Kawira is accused of engaging in nepotism, illegal appointments, unlawful dismissal, and usurping of the constitution and statutory functions of county organs.
She is also accused of incitement, bullying, vilification, and misleading campaigns against other leaders.
The third charge facing Kawira was forceful entry into the assembly precincts and mobilization of unlawful riots against MCAs.
Governor Kawira is also charged with violation of Public Finance Management laws while the last “crime” was misconduct relating to the nomination of CEC. Meru County Assembly has been allocated three and a half hours to prosecute its case.
It has lined up three witnesses. The 11-member committee will determine whether accusations levelled against the governor warrant her removal.
The committee has up to December 30 to deliver its findings.
During her impeachment on December 14, 67 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) present during the impeachment session had voted to remove her over abuse of office claims. Nkomo MCA Kithinji Ethaiba was absent and was said to be sick.
Also absent was Kiagu MCA Simon Kiambi, the only legislator who was opposed to her impeachment.
The MCAs accused Governor Kawira of the illegal dismissal of four heads of county autonomous bodies before the end of their contract, falsely accusing MCAs of operating like a cartel, corruption, greed, and blackmail as well as vilifying and bullying other leaders.
The Meru Governor was also accused of flouting several national and county laws including Public Officers Ethics Act, County Governments Act, Meru Youth Service Act, Public Appointments (County Assemblies Approval) Act, and Fair Administrative Actions Act, Employment Act, Leadership and Integrity Act, County Assemblies Powers and Privileges Act, Meru County Retention and Enhancement Public Finance Management Act, Municipality and Fund Act.
The MCAs further accused Kawira of appointing her husband as Meru Youth Service Patron and a non-existent position of hustlers’ ambassador without following the law and appointing five unqualified persons to hold county offices without a transparent recruitment process.
