The High Court suspended the resolution by the Senate to remove embattled Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza from office.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye also restrained Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi from publishing in the Kenya Gazette notice of a declaration of a vacancy in the Governor of Meru County office.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye directed that the matter be mentioned on September 17 to confirm compliance and to determine a priority date for highlighting written submissions, which both parties must have submitted by September 13.
“Pending the inter-partes hearing and determination of the Application dated 21/08/2024, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued staying the furtherance or the implementation of the Resolution of the Senate removing the Governor of Meru County, Kawira Mwangaza, from Office by way of impeachment,” the judge ordered.
This comes a day after the Meru County Assembly unsuccessfully attempted to impeach her. Senators voted to send her home based on three charges on which she was found guilty.
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“The senators, having voted to uphold the charges against the Meru governor, Governor Kawira Mwangaza ceases to hold office,” ruled Speaker Amason Kingi.
Further, the judge directed Kingi, listed as a Respondent, to file and serve a response by August 28.
Judge Mwamuye said the Petition filed on Wednesday, August 21, raised constitutional, legal, and factual issues that met the threshold that warranted immediate intervention by the Court through the issuance of ex-parte interim conservatory orders.
The County Assembly first impeached Governor Mwangaza in December 2022, but an 11-member Senate Special Committee later found that none of the charges against her was proven.
In November 2023, the Senate granted her another political lifeline after she pleaded for forgiveness and a second chance, but she was not third-time lucky this week.
