BREAKING NEWS
NAIROBI—The Governor of Meru County, Kawira Mwangaza has survived a second attempt to remove her from office after the local assembly of Meru impeached her over several counts, including nepotism and naming a road after her spouse.
This is after majority of the Senators voted against the charges leveled against her by the county assembly during her impeachment.
“The result of the division indicate that the Senate has not upheld any of the impeachment charges… The Senate has failed to remove from office by impeachment Governor Kawira Mwangaza and the Governor accordingly continues to hold office,” ruled Speaker Amason Kingi after the vote by the Senators.
As the speaker made the ruling in her favour, Governor Kawira could be seen covering her eyes in a show of mixed emotions coming at the backdrop of bruising trial filled with moments of what one female senator said was “shameful and an affront to female leadership.”
In charge one on misappropriation and misuse of public resources, 28 senators voted that the governor was innocent while 19 senators voted to say she was guilty.
On nepotism and unethical practices, 42 senators voted to save the governor while five senators supported it.
On charge three, bullying, vilification, and demeaning of other leaders, 44 Senators dismissed the charge while three approved it.
On charge four of illegal appointment and usurpation of statutory powers, 26 senators voted against it while 20 voted in support. One Senator did not vote.
On Charge Five, Contempt of Court, 44 senators vindicated the governor while three senators backed the assembly on the accusation.
On charge six the governor named a road after her husband, 43 senators dismissed the charges while four senators found the governor guilty.
The vote came moments after the county chief made her final plea to the lawmakers to give her a second chance.
“If there is a leader in this house, in Meru, and in Kenya that I have wronged, I ask for forgiveness,” Mwangaza said as she pleaded with the house to save her job.
Voting was done by delegation meaning only 47 senators representing all counties cast their votes. The hearing of Governor Mwangaza’s impeachment case lasted two days.
This is the second impeachment she has survived after the first one was thrown out by the same Senate Assembly last year.
