Governor Mwangaza's charges not grounds for impeachment - CS Kuria

Mwangaza pleaded not guilty to all the seven charges.

In Summary
  • On the first charge, the governor is accused of misappropriation and misuse of public resources. 
  • She is also accused of paying salaries and benefits to high-ranking officers without rendering any services to the county. 
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza at the senate for the hearing of her impeachment hearings on November 7, 2023
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza at the senate for the hearing of her impeachment hearings on November 7, 2023
Image: EZEKIEL AMINGÁ

Public Service CS Moses Kuria has said issues presented against Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza do not warrant her impeachment.

On Tuesday, Mwangaza pleaded not guilty to all the seven charges that have been levelled against her by county MCAs. 

In a statement on his X page, Kuria said Mwangaza's offence is to look down on people which can't be the grounds for her impeachment.

"I have studied carefully the issues presented against Governor Kawira. The most serious offence is that she does what Kukuyus call Kuangalia watu manyiira (look down on people). That offence can take you to hell but not to jail. Certainly not a ground for Impeachment," he said.

Mwangaza is facing seven charges that formed grounds for her impeachment. She denied all the charges on Tuesday.

On the first charge, the governor is accused of misappropriation and misuse of public resources. 

She is also accused of paying salaries and benefits to high-ranking officers without rendering any services to the county. 

The governor faced another charge of nepotism and unethical practices with the Assembly claiming she represented unqualified relatives as qualified technical staff for the inspection of medical equipment in China. 

The third charge is bullying, vilification and demeaning other county leaders with her problems with her deputy being filed as evidence. 

On the fourth charge, the governor is accused of illegal appointments and usurpation of statutory powers. 

The fifth charge is of being contempt of court while the sixth is illegally naming a public road after her husband.

The seventh charge is on contempt of the County Assembly. 

The governor was impeached last Wednesday after 59 MCAs voted in favour of the impeachment motion.

Senators on Thursday approved a procedural motion to alter the hours of sittings for November 7 and 8 to conduct the hearings. 

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