Twice Lucky: Senators Save Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza From Impeachment, Again
As the clock ticked towards 1 a.m. on Thursday, tension filled the Senate as they deliberated the fate of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
In a surprising twist that disregarded party affiliations, all seven charges against the 50-year-old were deemed baseless, resulting in the dismissal of the impeachment motion brought forth by the Meru County Assembly. Overwhelmed with a mix of relief and joy, Governor Mwangaza could not hold back her tears. Speaker Kingi will now communicate the Senate's decision to Ayub Bundi, the Meru counterpart. The first accusation, which involved the alleged mismanagement and improper use of county resources, received 28 votes against and 18 votes in favour. Similarly, the second charge, which accused the governor of favouritism and other unethical conduct, was overwhelmingly dismissed with 42 votes against and 5 votes in favour.
The third accusation saw a continuation of the trend, with 44 senators casting their votes against the claims of bullying, vilification, and demeaning behaviour towards other leaders, while a mere 3 senators sided with the allegations. When it came to the accusation of illegal appointments and the abuse of statutory powers, 27 senators deemed the claim unfounded, while 20 senators held a different view. The charges of showing contempt towards the court and the improper naming of a public road after her husband also failed to gather momentum, as 44 senators opposed both allegations and only 3 were in favour. During the deliberation, Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot stressed the importance of impartiality among his colleagues as they examined the seven charges and sought a verdict that was fair and balanced.
Senator Cheruiyot acknowledged the gravity of the situation and raised the idea of utilizing Article 192 of the Constitution to dissolve the county government, providing the people of Meru with a fresh start. In a similar vein, Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo encouraged his fellow senators to make their decisions based on the evidence presented rather than aligning with their political parties. Senator Boni Khalwale of Kakamega emphasized that the problems in Meru have been ongoing and that removing governors alone is not the ultimate solution.
Echoing this sentiment, Kitui Senator Enock Wambua criticized the evidence put forth by the Assembly, claiming it fell short of the necessary standard for impeachment. Senator Godfrey Osotsi of Vihiga dismissed the evidence presented by the assembly as well.