- The motion by majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot was seconded by Kilifi senator Steward Mwadzayo and unanimously approved by the members.
- On the first charge, the governor is accused of misappropriation and misuse of public resources.
Image: PCS
Besieged Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has on Tuesday 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.
Earlier before the impeachment proceedings started at 11 am, senators retreated to a closed-door session under the leadership of Speaker Amason Kingi.
During the close meeting, the senators agreed on rules for conducting the impeachment proceedings.
This included setting time for cross-examining witnesses during the hearing.
“Consequently, a hearing program has been prepared and appended to today’s order paper. As is the tradition and in line with the schedule of activities for an impeachment hearing, the senate will hold a preparatory session to discuss the management of the investigation,” Kingi ruled.
Kingi said that the discussion is aimed at ensuring that the process is conducted seamlessly and concluded in line with the requirements set under the County Governments Act and the Senate Standing Orders.
“And now therefore I direct that all members of the public including the media withdraw from the galleries and any form of broadcast from the chamber to cease forthwith,” Speaker Kingi said.
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.
The lawmakers will hold the sitting until 1.00 pm for the morning sittings and at 2:30 pm until the close of business for the afternoon sittings in the two days.
The decision to conduct the hearing on plenary was arrived at Tuesday after members rejected a motion by Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina.
Ole Kina rooted for the committee in investigating the impeachment allegations against the governor.
Mwangaza faces several allegations that of proved will see the Senate confirm the impeachment and vote to send her home.
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.