• Mwangaza is also accused of bullying, vilifying and demeaning other leaders, making illegal appointments and usurping statutory powers.
• Through her lawyers, Mwangaza has pleaded with Senators to act with sobriety when deciding her fate.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Embattled Governor Kawira Mwangaza's lawyer Elisha Ongoya on Tuesday moved to dismiss claims that the county boss hurled abusive words to his deputy Isaac Mutuma in a WhatsApp group.
The accusation of the Governor's bullying, undermining and insulting her deputy governor in a WhatsApp group is one of the charges that formed the ground for her impeachment.
Ongoya in his opening statement on the floor of the National Assembly claimed it is the Deputy Governor who was first captured in a video recording chanting anti-0governor slogans in the company of a group of people.
The Lawyer says it is against that backdrop that Governor Mwangaza fired back by downplaying the content of the video clip which, he says was shared in the WhatsApp group.
"You will be told that the governor is capable of bullying, undermining and posting demeaning messages about the deputy governor her deputy governor.," Ongoya said.
"This is a sad claim and I must emphasize this point."
According to Ongoya, the video in question showed the deputy Governor chanting:
"Kawira doesn't have a home, oyeee oyeee! She doesn't have a home oyee oyeee@ Mutuma kindly strategise eeeyeeii eeyeeii!"
He says the Video was posted on the WhatsApp group to which the Governor responded to.
"The governor says in reply to that video, that I cannot be intimidated by these childish people. You will be told no, focus on these words that Mwangaza said and forget the video that had insults on her," Ongoya said.
He said they should also consider the video in question, before focusing on Mwangaza's reply.
The wrangles between the governor and her deputy started in September.
What followed was an impeachment where Mwangaza was ousted after 59 MCAs voted in favour of the impeachment motion.
The impeachment case against Kawira is being heard in the Senate plenary. Mwangaza has since pleaded not guilty to seven charges against her.
Her charges include misappropriation and misuse of county resources, nepotism and related unethical practices.
The governor faces accusations of illegal appointments, contempt of court, illegally naming a public road after her husband and contempt of the assembly.
Mwangaza is also accused of bullying, vilifying and demeaning other leaders, making illegal appointments and usurping statutory powers.
On Tuesday she pleaded not guilty to all the seven charges that have been levelled against her by county MCAs.
The governor listened pensively as Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye read out all the charges as the impeachment proceedings started at the Senate.
"Not guilty," she responded when Nyegenye posed the question to her after reading out the particulars of each of the charges.
Through her lawyers, Mwangaza has pleaded with Senators to act with sobriety when deciding her fate.
Lawyer Elisha Ongoya, who represented the embattled governor before the plenary of the House, said Kawira prayer is that senators will carefully consider the evidence before them.
“Evidence is not counted; evidence is weighed. Eventually, put this evidence on to a weighing scale and come to conscientious conclusion,” he said.