Meru County Governor Kawira Mwangaza has survived an impeachment motion against her at the Senate.
This is after the majority of 47 elected senators voted to save her. Nominated senators were not allowed to participate in the voting.
Senators voted seven times because of seven charges against Kawira.
Prior to the vote, Speaker Amason Kingi announced that even if one charge was to be substantiated, Kawira was to seize being the governor of Meru. Voting yes meant the charge had been substantiated, nay meaning the charge had not been substantiated.
“Pursuant to Article 181 of the Constitution, Section 33 of the County Governments Act and Standing Order 80, the Senate resolves to remove from office by impeachment Kawira Mwangaza the governor Meru County on the seven charges; Misappropriation and misuse of County resources, nepotism and related unethical practices, bullying, vilification and diminishing other leaders, illegal appointments and usurpation of statutory powers, contempt of court, illegally naming a public road after her husband, and contempt of the assembly,” Kingi read the charge against the Meru governor to the Senate.
The senators voted electronically.
The majority of the elected senators voted against all the seven charges that Kawira faced.
Misappropriation and misuse of County resources Yes 19, Nay 28, nepotism and related unethical practices Yes 5, Nay 42, bullying, vilification and diminishing other leaders Yes 3, Nay 44, illegal appointments and usurpation of statutory powers Yes 20 Nay 27, contempt of court Yes 3 Nay 44, illegally naming a public road after her husband Yes 4, Nay 43, contempt of the assembly Yes 10 Nay 37.
Following the vote, the Senate did not uphold any of the charges thus the House failed to remove the from office Kawira Mwangara. The governor continues to hold the office.
The embattled Meru governor was impeached for the second time on October 25, 2023, after all 59 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) who were present at the Meru County Assembly supported a motion moved by Majority Leader Evans Mawira.
However, 10 MCAs who opposed the impeachment were absent from the assembly.
Kawira was first impeached on December 14, 2022, and became the first county boss to be voted out barely three months after being sworn in.
All 67 MCAs who were present during the first impeachment session voted to remove her over abuse of office claims.
Kawira was however saved from impeachment after an 11-member special Senate committee found charges against her unsubstantiated.
