Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza survive ouster bid

Embattled Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza has survived a spirited ouster bid by the Meru County Assembly after the Boni Khalwale led eleven-member special Senate committee trashed all the allged 62 violations with a verdict that none of the allegations was substantiated.

While presenting the report to the plenary, Khalwale indicated that MCAs failed to prove any of the claims they had leveled against her.

“The Committee having investigated the matter in accordance with its mandate under section 33(4) of the County Governments Act and standing order 80(2) of the Senate Standing Orders reports to the Senate that it finds that the five Charges against the Governor of Meru County have not been substantiated.” Khalwale submitted to the plenary.

The verdict was made in a special sitting held this afternoon after Senator Khalwale’s-led committee tabled a report on the floor of the house.

“After the consideration of charges made against Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, all 11 members of the Special Senate Committee agreed and recommended that none of the charges was proved,” Khalwale remarked while tabling the report.

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.

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.

The Senate received approved ouster verdict Meru County Assembly against the governor on December 14, 2022.

All the 67 MCAs unanimously voted to remove Kawira from office.

They accused her of abuse of office, gross misconduct, and violation of the constitution.

However, the committee noted that the embattled governor had faulted the law in appointing Rufas Miriti as the county secretary without following procedure.

The report indicated that the appointment was a mere public pronouncement without the approval of the assembly.

Further, Miriti’s appointment was not actualized with the issuance of an appointment letter as required by law.

“The Committee therefore finds that there was a violation of the law in failing to seek the approval of the County Assembly for the reappointment of the County Secretary but the violation does not meet the threshold for removal from office. The allegation is therefore not substantiated,” the report read.

With Kawira having survived the axe, the 11-member committee observed that its evident that the acrimonious relationship between the Meru governor and the MCAs will bring a crisis in the county.