Senate gear up for Mwangaza's third impeachment battle

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza. [File, Standard]

The Senate is yet again set to either bury or rescue the political life of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza when it begins a two-day session to either uphold or dismiss her impeachment by Meru County Assembly.

The embattled governor is facing a third impeachment.

The Senate will have a special sitting today morning where senators will have a pre-hearing conference before Meru Members of County Assembly present their case to support the impeachment motion passed over a week ago. 

Governor Mwangaza will then appear before the Senate tomorrow (Tuesday) morning where she will have an opportunity to defend herself against allegations raised against her before Senators vote to make a decision on whether to uphold or dismiss her impeachment by Meru County Assembly.

Last Wednesday, Senators who are currently on recess convened a special sitting where they resolved to hear the impeachment motion through plenary after they voted against a special committee of 11 Senators to hear the matter.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said following the decision, the county assembly and the governor had until Saturday evening to file their responses to the office of the clerk of the Senate with all the 67 Senators getting the necessary documents by Sunday evening.

“I would like to inform the Senate that I have received a message from the Speaker of Meru County Assembly informing me of the passage of a motion of the removal from office of Governor Kawira Mwangaza by way of impeachment necessitating this house to look into the matter,” said Kingi.

Senate Majority Whip Boni Khalwale had tabled the names of 11 Senators pursuant to section 33(3) (b) of the County Governments Act and Standing Order 80(1) (b) to establish a special committee comprising 11 Senators to investigate the allegations and provide a report to the Senate in 10 days. Members voted against the move.

During her Second Impeachment process in November last year which the Senate dismissed, Mwangaza faced accusations of misappropriation and misuse of county resources, nepotism and related unethical practices, bullying, vilification and demeaning other leaders, Illegal appointments and usurpation of statutory powers, contempt of court, illegally naming a public road after husband, contempt of the assembly.

When given a chance to make final remarks before the vote was taken during her second impeachment, Mwangaza pleaded with the house to save her asking for forgiveness if she had wronged anyone in the Senate and in Meru County. She admitted that just like any other human being, she had her weaknesses which she would strive to overcome.

“I am praying to God to give me energy, grace and perseverance to serve the people of Meru since I have a duty to unite them, I am seeking forgiveness from the Meru Senator, Members of Parliament and Members of County Assembly, asking them to allow that we have a fresh start,” said Kawira.

A video showing outbursts made by Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi against Mwangaza and last-minute calls to Senators by Azimio Leader Raila Odinga are said to have helped tilt the scale to save Mwangaza from Impeachment last year it would be interesting to see if Raila will also intervene this time round.

A Senator allied to Azimio who spoke to The Standard at the time said most Senators who watched the videos showing the Tigania East MP demeaning the governor changed their mind and decided to shoot down the second impeachment motion that Mwangaza faced.

Raila is said to have called all Senators allied to Azimio La Umoja last year and implored them to save the Meru Governor from impeachment, terming the grounds she was charged with flimsy and political machinations that were aimed at removing her from office.

According to a Senator allied to Kenya Kwanza Alliance, President William Ruto had allowed the coalition senators to vote with their conscience during the second impeachment motion, unlike during the first impeachment, when they were whipped to support her. It would be interesting to see if he will intervene this time round.

“Governor Mwangaza should thank the Tigania East MP for the demeaning comments he made about her in the several videos played before the Senate since they earned her sympathy votes from Senators who were baying for her blood, they played a major role in convincing us to save her,” said the Senator.

Mwangaza will be the third governor to be taken through the entire house process after former Governors Mike Sonko (Nairobi) and Ferdinand Waititu(Kiambu) were kicked out of office in a similar manner after majority Senators voted to uphold their impeachment by their respective county assemblies.

Former Governors Martin Wambora(Embu), Paul Chepkwony(Kericho) and Mohammed Abdi(Wajir), Mwangi wa Iria(Murang'a) Granton Samboja(Taita Taveta) and current Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru have faced impeachment proceedings since inception of devolution in which the Senate adopted a 11 member committee to handle their case and give a report to the house.

Wambora was the first Governor to face impeachment in 2014 with Embu County Assembly impeaching him twice. The Senate upheld the second impeachment only to be saved by the Court of Appeal in 2015. Wambora went ahead to complete his first term and even got re-elected for the second term.

Kericho's Chepkwony who was impeached by Kericho County Assembly in 2014 survived after an 11-member special senate committee selected to listen to the accusations made against him cleared all the charges that he faced after being accused of gross violation of the constitution.

Waiguru who is currently serving a second term in office had been impeached by the Kirinyaga County Assembly in 2020 with Senate clearing her of the charges levelled against her after which she went ahead to be re-elected and is currently serving as the Chairperson of the Council of Governors.

The Senate upheld the impeachment of Mohammed Abdi after Wajir MCAs voted to kick him out in April 2021 with his Deputy Ahmed Muktar being sworn into office the following month. The court however reinstated Abdi a few months to the 2022 general election.

Former Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria was impeached by Members of County Assembly in 2015 but the motion did not pass in the Senate with former Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja also being impeached by Members of County Assembly in 2019 only to be saved by the Senate.

In a motion moved by Nominated Member of County Assembly Zipporah Kinya before the Meru County Assembly two weeks ago, Mwangaza is facing accusations of gross violation of the Constitution of Kenya, gross violation of various national and county laws and abuse of office.