Senate calls for special sitting to debate Kawira Mwangaza's impeachment report

Embattled Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza and her spouse Murega Baichu arrive at the Senate chambers on day two of her impeachment hearing. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The Senate will hold a special sitting on Friday for the consideration of the Report of Special Committee on the proposed removal from office by impeachment of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.

The impeachment hearing was on Wednesday told that Mwangaza's husband Murega Baichu did not hold any official position in the County and that she had not done any illegal appointment since she took office in August.

During the second day of the proceedings held at the Senate Chambers in Nairobi, Meru County Chief of Staff Harrison Gitonga took up the witness stand as the sole witness for the governor where he put a spirited fight to exonerate her of any wrongdoing.

Gitonga told the committee led by Kakamega Senator Bonnie Khalwale that no illegal appointments had been made in the county and that governor's spouse was not a member of staff for the county government.

"I wrote a letter to the Meru County Public Service Board seeking clarification on the alleged employment of Murega Baichu and I was informed that he was not an employee of the County Government," said Gitonga.

He said the title bestowed upon Baichu as Meru Hustlers Ambassador was honorary and that given that the governor was running a programme known as 'Okolea' while serving as Meru Woman Representative she wanted someone who is well conversant with it to be in charge and that is why Baichu came to the picture.

He said the role given to Baichu was not unique since spouses of other governors were also involved in various activities citing former Governor Kiraitu Murungi of having appointed his wife to be the Patron of Twaweza Programme and nobody had a problem about it.

Gitonga told the hearing that Mwangaza had appointed her Chief of Staff, Director of Communication, Political, Economic and Legal Advisors without having a reference with the County Public Service Board since she was legally allowed to do that stating there was no illegality committed in the said appointments.

"The Governor is legally allowed to make the mentioned appointment directly thus there is no illegality as claimed," said Gitonga.

According to him, Governor Mwangaza was a victim during the clashes witnessed on the day she went to address the Meru County Assembly with Members walking out since stones were pelted at her from inside the Assembly with the allegations that she had incited members of the public against them not being true at all.

He told the Committee that the MCAs had vowed not to approve County Executive Committee Members and block the governor from addressing them before the unfortunate occurrence on the day she turned up to make her maiden address to the Assembly.

Gitonga was cross-examined by Mwangaza's advocates Manasseh Mwangi, Elias Mutuma and Robert Mutembei in which he tried his level best to exonerate her from the 62 grounds for her impeachment.