Kawira Mwangaza Wants Ruto To Dissolve Meru County Government

The governor claimed to have received several delegations of people who wanted to collect signatures and push for the suspension of the county, adding that the exercise would begin on Monday, November 20.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Nov 16, 2023 - 12:34 Updated: Nov 16, 2023 - 12:38
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Kawira Mwangaza Wants Ruto To Dissolve Meru County Government
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza during a previous address. /FACEBOOK

Embattled Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza on Thursday, November 16 revealed that she was willing to ask President William Ruto to dissolve the Meru County Government.

Having just emerged from defeating another impeachment motion against her, there has been talk of a plot by Meru Members of the County Assembly (MCA) to paralyse the county government by attempting to impeach eight CECs, three chief officers and the chief of staff in a bid to create an 'emergency' that would lead to their suspension.

The governor claimed to have received several delegations of people who wanted to collect signatures and push for the suspension of the county, adding that the exercise would begin on Monday, November 20.

Embattled Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza at the Senate on November 8, 2023. /SENATE KENYA

"People from non-governmental organisations and individuals came to me with the request. But I told them that first we will continue negotiations with the ward representatives and come to an agreement on how we will work," the governor said in an interview with Muuga FM.

"But if the issues are not resolved, I will support them in the initiative to suspend the county."

Mwangaza added that she had worked "very hard under difficult circumstances" to achieve development, which saw her ranked in the top 10 in a recent InfoTrak survey.

"I have worked tirelessly under great pressure and I don't think any other leader in Kenya has had such an experience. I am confident that if we go back to the polls, the people of Meru will re-elect me because they know I will serve them," she added.

Article 192 of the Constitution states that a county can be suspended in a state of emergency or "in other exceptional circumstances" if the President is satisfied that such action is warranted.

This involves an investigation by a commission of inquiry, which makes recommendations to the President, who, if he decides to suspend, the county holds elections after 90 days.

A petition to the President must be supported by at least 10 per cent of registered voters, and with 780,000 voters in Meru.

Should the suspension go through, Mwangaza will be free to defend her seat as an independent candidate or run using a political party of her choice.

It is worth noting that she has expressed the will to work with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) led by President Ruto.

Mwangaza was elected as Governor as an Independent Candidate having previously served as the Meru County Woman Representative. 

She escaped having her impeachment confirmed by the Senate for the second time after the Senators voted on midnight, Thursday, November 9 to dismiss all seven charges levelled against her that warranted her second impeachment.

Governor Kawira Mwangaza welcomed back by Meru residents on November 10, 2023, after surviving impeachment for the second time. /KAWIRA MWANGAZA

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