LEADERS FALL OUT

Mwangaza faces second impeachment in less than a year

The ouster motion is being crafted and will be tabled in the assembly soon

In Summary
  • The impeachment motion is being crafted and will be tabled in the assembly soon.
  • Mwangaza has fallen out with her deputy Mutuma M'ithinkia. She has also fallen out with Meru MPs who have openly called for her impeachment.
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza distributes mattresses to residents in her door-to-door Okolea programme on Sunday /Dennis Dibondo
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza distributes mattresses to residents in her door-to-door Okolea programme on Sunday /Dennis Dibondo

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza is now staring at the risk of being impeached for the second time in just 10 months after 61 out of the county's 69 MCAs expressed support for the ouster bid.

The ward representatives include 27 from President William Ruto's UDA party, 21 from the Devolution Empowerment Party, 10 from Jubilee and three from the National Ordinary Peoples Empowerment Union.

The impeachment motion is being crafted and will be tabled in the assembly soon.

Mwangaza has fallen out with her deputy Mutuma M'ithinkia. She has also fallen out with Meru MPs who have openly called for her impeachment.

A fortnight ago, Mwangaza called the legislators cartels who were out to enrich themselves at the expense of development.

She made the remarks at a function where President Ruto was present. The remarks did not augur well with the MPs.

The governor has also since fallen out with Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi who is said to have worked behind the scenes to save her when she was first impeached in December last year.

Linturi who spoke on Friday after visiting M'ithinkia who is admitted in Karen hospital, said Meru is bigger than anyone.

"Meru residents should do what is necessary as Meru has become a laughing stock across the nation," Linturi said.

The CS said instead of Meru having a leadership problem the constitution allows the MCAs to carry out the mandate.

A vernacular TV station on Tuesday night reported that Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika and Kirinyaga's Anne Waiguru are trying to save Mwangaza from the impeachment that might send her political career into oblivion.

Meru leaders have warned other leaders not to interfere with internal matters of the county. National Ordinary People Empowerment Union chairman Julius Mbijiwe said Kihika and Waiguru should stop meddling with Meru bedroom affairs. Linturi has also asked Gachagua not to save Mwangaza.

"Apart from not respecting other leaders, Mwangaza is also accused of using Okolea to intimidate other leaders. There has been questions over how she will be able to separate the programme from her official governor duties," Meru Majority leader Evans Mawira said.

Last year, the MCAs made a similar move but hit a snag after the Senate saved her from ouster on December 30, 2022.

This was after 67 of the 69 MCAs that were present in the Meru County Assembly impeached her on December 14, on five grounds including abuse of office just 64 days after she assumed office.

Kawira pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The 11-member Senate special committee chaired by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale said none of the 62 allegations levelled against her were substantiated.

Already, majority and minority parties are seeking to send Mwangaza home. Kenya Kwanza MCAs at Meru County Assembly have withdrawn their support for the governor.

They spoke on Saturday when they addressed the press at Gatimene Gardens Hotel.

Mawira  (Mitunguu) said 27 Kenya Kwanza MCAs appended their signatures and will soon table an impeachment motion against Mwangaza.

Some 13 MCA of former Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi's Devolution Empowerment Party popularly known as Mbus, on Monday also resolved to support an impeachment motion.

Mwangaza has changed her Okolea programme to now be going door to door. On Sunday a photo of her lying down the pulpit and being prayed for and anointed with oil at her church in Meru surfaced. Photos of her doing Okolea on Sunday have also gone viral.

It remains to be seen how Mwangaza who clinched the seat after trouncing Linturi and Kiraitu who hadn't lost for 35 years, will survive the ouster this time round.

 

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