Governor Mwangaza Stops Meru MCAs From Impeaching Her

This comes a day after Meru MCAs debated on the motion in the county assembly

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Nov 30, 2022 - 07:04 Updated: Nov 30, 2022 - 07:18
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Governor Mwangaza Stops Meru MCAs From Impeaching Her
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza during a previous address. /FILE

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has been handed a victory after the High Court suspended an impeachment motion against her.

Justice Wamae Cherere ruled on Wednesday, November 30 that the Meru County Assembly did not follow the proper procedure in initiating the motion.

The court also indicated a flawed procedure, thus the decision to debate having her kicked out of office could not stand.

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza left alone after MCAs walked out on her on October 19, 2022. /TWITTER

This comes a day after Meru MCAs debated on the motion in the county assembly and were to debate on it again before casting their vote to determine whether or not to remove her from office after more than three months.

“It is the singular authority of the court to deal with threatened violations before they happen and to give appropriate reliefs including conservatory orders in terms of Article 23 (3) of the constitution,” Justice Cherere stated.

"It is therefore hereby ordered that the impeachment motion dated November 21, 2022, by MCAs scheduled for debate on November 30 at 10:00 am is flawed and is quashed."

Through her lawyer Mutuma Gichuru, Mwangaza hinted at unfairness in the event the impeachment motion was allowed to go through.

She added that the motion was incompetent given that it was issued by the County Assembly deputy clerk, who signed off as the acting clerk, despite the seat having no official occupant.

Mwangaza had also called upon the court to suspend letters issued by the deputy clerk inviting her to appear before the assembly for the impeachment motion.

She also wanted the court to grant her conservatory orders suspending any action by MCAs and respondents upon the impeachment motion introduced on November 21.

The MCAs voted 68 out of 69 in favour of the motion that wanted her impeached for gross violation of the constitution, gross violation of various national and county laws, abuse of office and gross misconduct.

Abogeta West MCA Dennis Kiogora accused Mwangaza of engaging in a series of "discreditable acts" which he added has generated a toxic environment and turned the county into Kenya's laughing stock.

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza and her husband on September 30, 2022. /FILE

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