Senate saves Governor ni Mama from impeachment
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has survived an impeachment motion against her.
This is after the Senate dismissed the motion seeking to remove her from office.
Meru MCAs passed the motion accusing the governor of infringing on her constitutional powers.
Some 67 out of the 69 MCAs supported the motion before it was passed and later tabled in Senate.
The Senate selected an 11-member committee that conducted a two-day hearing into the allegations.
Boni Khalwale-led committee concluded its hearings on Thursday at 2 AM and retreated to make a determination into the allegations.
Kawira in her defense presented her Chief of Staff who gave an account of the happenings in the county that brought about her impeachment.
Kawira had been accused of five allegations which included, nepotism, illegal appointments, unlawful dismissal and usurping of the constitution and statutory functions of county organs, incitement, bullying, vilification and misleading campaigns against other leaders, forceful entry into the assembly precincts and mobilization of unlawful riots against MCAs and violating of PFM Laws and lastly misconduct relating to nomination of CEC.
Presenting the report, the Committee Chairperson, Mr Khalwale noted that none of the allegations against the Governor to had been substantiated..
After Khalwale tabled the recommendations, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi ruled that the senate will not vote or discuss the motion any further.
“Honourable senators, the committee has found allegations against the governor not substantiated,”
“According to standing laws, if the special committee recommends that allegations have not been substantiated, further proceedings shall not be taken in respect of those allegations. As far as the matter of impeachment of Governor Kawira Mwangaza, that matter is now put to rest,” the speaker ruled.
According to Section 33(6), (a) of the County Governments Act and Senate Standing Order 75(4), if allegations have not been substantiated, the matter will come to an end as further proceedings shall not be taken in line with Section 33(6) of the County Government Act, 2012.
The speaker further explained that the special committee was a creation of the senate and thus the whole senate was represented in making the recommendation.
Senate received an approved impeachment motion from Meru County Assembly against Governor Mwangaza on December 14, 2022.
67 Meru MCAs, in October, backed a motion proposed by Abogeta West MCA Dennis Kiogora to impeach the Governor on grounds that she had infringed on her constitutional powers.
The MCAs in Meru impeached the Mwangaza on grounds that she appointed her husband to a non-existent office, lack of transparency, and competitiveness in recruitment.
She is also accused of disregarding the process of establishing the husband’s office and failing to submit his name to the assembly for approval.
The Meru County Assembly that impeached Governor Mwangaza was first to appear before the special committee on Tuesday to present its case on why 67 out of 69 MCAs in the assembly voted to impeach the Meru County boss.
The MCAs claimed that Mwangaza violated at least one law per day from September 6 to November 9.
Through lawyer Muthomi Thiankolu, they accused the governor of 62 violations of the Constitution, all committed within 64 days.