Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has survived a second attempt to remove her from office.
This comes after a majority of the Senate's 47 members refused to uphold any of the seven allegations against her by Meru's County Assembly, which voted unanimously to remove her from office.
Governor Mwangaza was charged with misappropriating county resources, nepotism, and unethical practices, harassing and vilifying other officials, usurping her statutory responsibilities, contempt of court, naming a public road after her husband illegally, and contempt of the Meru County Assembly.
Did you read this?
Following a two-day hearing on the impeachment case against her, the 47 Senators voted on each of the seven accusations brought against Governor Mwangaza at around midnight on Wednesday.
On the first count of theft of county funds, 19 Senators voted to remove her from office, while 28 voted to keep her in office.
Five Senators ruled her guilty on the second count of nepotism and unethical practices, while 42 rejected the accusation as grounds for her dismissal.
Three Senators judged her guilty of bullying, vilifying, and demeaning other leaders, while 44 found her innocent.
MPs were virtually evenly divided on the charge of making illegal nominations and usurping statutory authority. Twenty senators deemed her guilty of this accusation, while 27 believed she was innocent. Only three Senators found her guilty of contempt of court, while 44 supported her.
Four Senators judged the egregious claim of improperly naming a public road after her husband as a primary reason for her removal, while 43 rejected the charge.
Finally, 10 Senators declared her guilty of contempt of the County Assembly, while 27 ruled the charge was unfounded.
"The result of the division indicates that the Senate has not upheld any of the impeachment charges. Pursuant to Article 181 of the Constitution, Section 33 (8) of the County Government Act and Standing Order 87 of the Senate Standing Orders, the Senate has failed to remove from office by impeachment Governor Kawira Mwangaza and the Governor accordingly continues to hold office."Senate Speaker Amason Kingi ruled.
