A notice of motion to impeach Governor Kawira Mwangaza has been presented at the Meru County Assembly. The motion, brought forward by Deputy Majority Leader Zipporah Kinya, accuses the governor of abuse of office and misappropriation and misuse of county resources.
Governor Mwangaza, who is serving her first term and has previously survived two impeachment attempts, is alleged to have committed "discreditable acts" that violate both national and county laws, according to Kinya.
“These discreditable acts have exposed the Office of the Governor, the Office of the Deputy Governor, the Assembly and its leadership, and the people of Meru County to national shame, scandal, embarrassment, ridicule, and disgrace,” states the notice of motion.
The accusations against Governor Mwangaza include her failure to appoint chairpersons for various boards, such as the Meru County Revenue Board and the Meru Microfinance Corporation. Additionally, she is accused of illegally revoking Virginia Miriti's appointment as county secretary without the required vote of at least 75 percent of the Meru MCAs.
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Further allegations involve financial mismanagement, including the payment of emergency call allowances to 161 doctors and medical officers at incorrect rates, leading to an excessive payment of Ksh. 74.3 million, and using a manual payroll to pay personnel emoluments amounting to Ksh.102.9 million. Mwangaza is also accused of employing an excessively large personal staff of at least 111 individuals, which Kinya claims has increased the wage bill by over Ksh.500 million.
Moreover, Governor Mwangaza is criticized for paying a staff member his full salary and benefits while he was in remand for a murder case.
Kinya argues that reconciliation efforts have failed, and Mwangaza’s continued tenure has “persistently undermined effective and efficient service delivery and gravely hurt the interests of the people of the county.”
In November last year, Mwangaza survived a second impeachment attempt after the majority of the 47 senators did not uphold any of the seven charges brought against her by the Meru County Assembly. The MCAs had unanimously voted to remove her from office on charges of misappropriating county resources, nepotism, unethical practices, bullying and vilifying other leaders, and usurping statutory powers. She was also accused of contempt of court, illegally naming a public road after her husband, and showing contempt for the Meru County Assembly.
The first impeachment attempt against Mwangaza occurred in December 2022, but an 11-member Senate committee found all charges unproven.
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