Analyst warns of conflict of interest in Kawira Mwangaza impeachment

As public participation begins today on the impeachment motion against Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, political analyst Marete Kinoti has weighed in on the matter.

Speaking on Spice FM on Monday, July 22, Kinoti noted that the third impeachment motion might still be hard since some Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) have joined forces with the governor. 

Out of 45 MCAs in Meru, 22 have opposed Mwangaza’s tenure while 23 are in support of her.

“In my opinion, it is about the people not about the MCAs. If you decided before that you want her out then you can only change your mind if you talk to your people. The 10 MCAs should have gone to the people and then later in the day get their opinion; even the 13 should have listened to the people and then decide if they want to support or not,” Kinoti said.

At first, only 13 MCAs were supporting her stay in office, but 10 more joined them over the weekend in defending the governor.

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Kinoti opined that the MCAs supporting the governor should listen to the opinion of the voters they represent before presenting their decision to the assembly. He further noted another area of conflict of interest that might act as a stumbling block to the impeachment process.

“The petitioners are about eight but unfortunately, most of them are associated with the governor because they work with her. I have seen some of the signatures that they have and they are somehow similar,” he added.

Kinoti said the plight of Meru residents, saying they are fatigued from lack of development in the administration. “Many are fatigued, for two years we haven't seen much development going on, and we see that we have become a county of ridiculed,” he said.

Kinoti suggested that the best solution could be a dissolution of the county leadership and starting afresh. Governor Mwangaza faces her third impeachment attempt with several allegations against her, including misuse of public funds and abuse of office.

Kinoti also raised an issue of employment and firing of county employees from the previous impeachment motion.

 “Nothing has been done… After court, they came back to work and they were thrown out and they have been awarded 4 million for inappropriate firing,” he said.

He noted that the dismissal of employees without proper communication contributes to misuse of public resources.