Embattled Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s two-day impeachment trial begins this Tuesday. The first-term governor now faces a crucial week after the Senate adopted the plenary route, instead of the committee way, to consider her removal from office.
The decision to conduct the hearing on plenary was made after senators rejected a motion by Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina, who had argued for a committee hearing. Ole Kina argued that a committee hearing would allow for a more thorough investigation of the impeachment allegations against Mwangaza.
However, the majority of senators voted in favor of a plenary hearing, arguing that it would be more transparent and democratic.
The governor was unanimously impeached by the Meru County Assembly following a motion tabled for her removal from office.
59 of the 69 MCAs present in the House voted in support of the motion, while 10 MCAs were absent.
The Meru MCAs are accusing Mwangaza of misappropriating county funds through her relatives, making fraudulent claims for their services, paying full salaries to high-ranking officials who rendered no services, misusing county resources, favoring unqualified relatives for official duties abroad and key county positions, making illegal appointments against court orders, and not adhering to proper recruitment procedures.
Notably, she is also accused of naming a public road after her husband without following statutory procedures, thereby breaching the Constitution and the Meru County Honours and Awards Act, of 2018.
Meru County MCAs are making a second attempt to oust Governor Kawira Mwangaza, with whom they have been at loggerheads since she assumed office.
The MCAs impeached Kawira in December 2022, but a Senate special committee found that none of the charges against her were proven.
Mwangaza’s fate now lies with the Senate.