- In his letter, Murungi requested the Controller of Budget not to authorise withdrawals from Meru County County Revenue Fund (CRF).
- He based his argument on the Senate sitting of August 20, 2024, that resolved to remove Mwangaza from office
Image: FILE
Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o has rejected a proposal by Meru Senator asking her to stop Governor Kawira Mwangaza from withdrawing county funds.
In a letter dated August 27, 2024, and addressed to Senator Kathuri Murungi, Nyakang'o said the governor had obtained court orders suspending her impeachment.
"Consequently, in light of the Court orders and the Appropriations Act being assented into law, the office is unable to acquiesce to your request to not authorise withdrawal from the Meru County Revenue Fund," Nyakang'o said.
"The office undertakes to respect the rule of law and abide with all orders that will emanate from the Court in this matter."
In his letter, Murungi requested the Controller of Budget not to authorise withdrawals from Meru County County Revenue Fund (CRF).
The Senate on August 20, 2024, resolved that Mwangaza be removed from office based on gross violation of the constitution and the laws of Kenya, gross misconduct and abuse of office.
Nyakang'o noted that after the resolution of the Senate, Mwangaza moved to court where Justice Bahati Mwamuye restrained Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi from publishing in the Kenya Gazette Notice a declaration of a vacancy in the office of the Governor of Meru County.
"Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the Application dated August 21, 2024, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued Promoting Prudent Utilisation of Public Funds staying the furtherance or implementation of the resolution of the Senate removing from office the Governor of Meru County, Kawira Mwangaza, from office by way of impeachment," the orders read further.
Nyakang'o said in light of the court order stopping the implementation of the resolution of the Senate to remove from office the governor, it, therefore, means that Mwangaza is still in office until such time as the court may issue other orders.
"This then means that the governor has the capacity to assent to the Appropriation Bill as envisaged under section 24(1)(a) of the County Governments Act," Nyakang'o said.