By Gitonga Brian, DevReporter, Meru County
Key Highlights
- Governor Kawira Mwangaza was impeached for the third time.
- Meru County residents are protesting her return to office after she challenged her impeachment in court.
- The case challenging her impeachment, mentioned on 25 September 2024, was postponed.
On August 21, 2024, the Senate upheld Governor Mwangaza’s impeachment under Article 181 (1) of the Constitution, finding her guilty on three charges: gross violation of the Constitution, gross misconduct and abuse of office.
However, the High Court halted the impeachment on August 22, allowing Mwangaza to return to office. This decision led to protests in Meru, where residents clashed with police over her reinstatement.
Mixed Reactions
Patrick Gikundi, 30, a resident of Imenti North Constituency, expresses why many Meru residents want the governor removed: “People say we are targeting her because she is a woman, but she is not doing her job. Even during the Senate proceedings, she continued to lie. We will keep protesting until she leaves office, even if the court sides with her.”
In contrast, Juliet Kananu, a mother of five from Imenti South, offers a different perspective. She believes that assembly members are targeting Mwangaza due to personal grievances.
Juliet is concerned that Meru’s male-dominated society may overlook the needs of the girl child, a neglect she feels is evident in the repeated impeachment attempts against the governor.
From Central Imenti, Warren Baro supports the Senate’s decision and rates Mwangaza’s performance as county governor poorly.
“I’d give her a score of 30%. She has failed due to her ego and is unqualified for the position. The charges against her reflect reality. She has received the judgment she deserves; she should go.”
Impact on Development
Despite the criticism, Fridah Karimi, 55, from Igembe North, praises Governor Mwangaza for her rural development efforts and contributions to Sustainable Development Goal 2:
“We’ve never had a governor like Kawira, who has supported rural areas with cows, gumboots, car wash machines, motorbikes, and road construction. She has also provided women’s groups with tents, cooking supplies, and financial aid. We would vote for her to serve another term.”
Patrick Gikundi disagrees, highlighting the lack of progress during Mwangaza’s leadership.
“Previous governors made progress, but there have been no new developments under her. Women are giving birth on the roads due to doctors’ strikes and a shortage of medications at Meru Level Five Hospital. This is why we want her out.”
Legal Dilemma
Kawira Mwangaza’s return to office after her impeachment has raised legal questions, according to Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru, who represents the County Assembly. He clarifies:
“When the Senate voted to remove her, the deputy governor automatically became governor by law. Any order issued after August 21 is irrelevant, as the deputy governor took over immediately following the vote.”
Governor’s Reaction
On her part, Governor Kawira Mwangaza has criticised the Meru County Assembly for some of its allocations in the 2024/2025 financial year.
“With a budget of Ksh. 1.1 billion, the assembly has allocated Ksh. 100 million for new Hansard microphones, despite already having existing ones. What were they using before? We’re curious to see if these new microphones will perform miracles because this expenditure doesn’t make sense,” she stated.
As opinions among Meru residents diverge regarding the county’s governance issues and the ongoing struggles surrounding Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s impeachment, it remains uncertain whether she will retain her position.
