Embattled Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has sought the intervention of the Senate to forestall a second impeachment barely 10 months since she survived a similar predicament last year.
Mwangaza in a letter to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said that in the spirit of reconciliation she was inviting the Senate Devolution Committee to mediate perceived differences between her, the Deputy Governor and the Meru county assembly.
The Committee chaired by Wajir Senator Sheikh Abbass is set to visit the county and meet the governor, her deputy and MCAs to help resolve the political differences that have threatened to derail service delivery in the county.
"After the failed attempt to kick me out of office last year, I was able to reconcile with Members of County Assembly and we have enjoyed a cordial relation until recently, being a governor elected on an Independent ticket I have been relying on the majority party to push the agenda of the Executive in the assembly," said Mwangaza.
The governor said that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) organized a meeting on September 23 where the county assembly Majority Leader Evans Mawira declared that they have withdrawn their support and they would soon table an impeachment motion against her.
Mwangaza further revealed that the Devolution Empowerment Party which is the minority in the assembly withdrew support for her two days later which has seen MCAs allied to her face alleged harassment by the Majority and Minority Whips.
The governor accused Members of Parliament from Meru of further fueling the political tension and boasting that they are going to ensure she is impeached over what they term as incompetence.
She claimed that the Deputy Governor has also been roped in the scheme to have her removed from office.
"Currently the entire leadership in Meru county has ganged up against me and are behind the impeachment plans, that is why I have sought the intervention of the Senate to help resolve our differences that will only serve to derail service delivery for our people," said Mwangaza.
The governor survived impeachment in December last year after Senate declared that the grounds for her removal from office could not be substantiated or proved. Mwangaza faced accusations of alleged nepotism, illegal appointments, unlawful dismissals and usurpation of the constitutional and statutory functions of the county organs.
The MCAs also accused Mwangaza of alleged incitement, bullying, vilification and misleading campaigns against other leaders, forceful entry into the county assembly precincts and mobilisation of unlawful riots against members of the assembly.
She was further accused of violation of the public finance management laws, misconduct relating to the nomination of County Executive Committee members.
The committee led by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale found that the accusations could not be substantiated or proved.
Tabling the report before the House, Dr Khalwale said that evidence adduced showed that the governor made public pronouncements at the county headquarters appointing Meru County First Gentleman Murega Baichu as the patron of Meru Youth Service and the Meru Hustler Ambassador.
"The positions the Meru County First Gentleman is alleged to have been appointed to be non-existent in the structure of the Meru county government. In addition, the witnesses for the county assembly acknowledged that the positions do not exist in the structure of the Meru county government," he said.
