Governor Mwangaza welcomes Senate's vote to hear impeachment in plenary

 

Meru County Governor Kawira Mwangaza when she appeared before the CPAC Committee on June 16, 2023. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Embattled Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza is putting on a brave face as she prepares to face the Senate for the impeachment hearing after she was ousted by the Members of the County Assembly.

Mwangaza has welcomed the decision by the Senate to hear impeachment charges against her through plenary saying this will give her with the best opportunity to defend herself.

The senators rejected a proposal by the House Business Committee to establish an 11-member committee to investigate the matter.

“I am comfortable either way,” she said.

Mwangaza’s Economic Advisor, Gideon Kimathi, said the plenary offers her the best platform to state her case.

“The Meru governor is okay and she welcomes the decision of the Senate to hold the hearing at the plenary level as opposed to the committee level because she wants to put everything bare. She firmly believes that she is innocent and is just being hunted by selfish politicians for selfish gains,” he said.

Mr Kimathi a former Chief of Staff in Governor Kiraitu Murungi’s administration, claimed that Mwangaza's impeachment is part of a plot by her political rivals.

“For justice to be served she wants all the cards played on the table. That was her wish, to be heard in plenary,” he said.

He said the plenary will also afford Kenyans the opportunity to follow the proceedings.

“She knows the senators will vote depending on the content, not the external forces,” he said.

Political analysts Prof Gitile Naituli and Oscar Mutungi concurred with Kimathi saying that the Senate decision will allow the public to follow proceedings. 

“A special committee has the potential of carrying a degree of opaqueness, with the case due for 'sudden death' in case a verdict of not guilty is passed. Reasons may not be provided for acquittal, resulting in an anticlimax,” said Mutugi. 

Mwangaza was impeached after 49 MCAs voted to send her packing. It remains to be seen whether the Senate will save her.