In a dramatic turn of events, Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has survived a second attempt to impeach her from office.
The Senate voted against all seven charges leveled against her, which included misappropriation and misuse of County resources by withdrawing County funds with the excuse of paying for various supplies by her relatives who the Meru county assembly alleged were not eligible to bid for contracts.
Mwangaza is also accused of nepotism. The Ward Representatives alleged that the Governor appointed one Edwin Mutuma Murangiri (her husband’s nephew) as the CEO of Meru Youth Service and Acting Chief Office, Ministry of Finance.
The MCAs further accused Mwangaza of bullying, vilification, and demeaning other leaders in the public.
Other accusations include; illegal appointments and usurpation of statutory powers, contempt of court, illegal naming of a public road after her husband, and contempt of the Assembly.
This is the second time that Mwangaza has been impeached by the Meru County Assembly. In December 2022, the Assembly passed a motion to impeach her, but the Senate dismissed the charges.
This time around, the Assembly had a stronger case against Mwangaza, but the Senate again ruled in her favor.
In a vote that took place past midnight after two days of intense and emotional proceedings, the vote was tight, with 28 senators voting against the charges and 18 voting in favor.
Mwangaza was impeached for the second time on Wednesday after fifty-nine Meru MCAs who attended the impeachment sitting voted in favor of the ouster bid. 10 MCAs were absent during the sitting.
Mwangaza’s supporters celebrated the news, while her opponents expressed disappointment. The governor herself was emotional after the vote, and she thanked the senators who voted to uphold her.