Senators Reject Formation Of Committee To Investigate Kawira Mwangaza
Kenya Kwanza senators were vouching for the plenary while their counterparts allied to Azimio la Umoja supported the establishment of the committee. The plenary consists of a sitting of all Senators.
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The fate of embattled Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza will be decided by a Senate plenary instead of an 11-member committee.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi announced on Tuesday, October 31 that the plenary will decide on the impeachment motion against Mwangaza after senators allied to President William Ruto dismissed a motion to establish the committee to hear and determine the charges levelled against her.
Kenya Kwanza senators were vouching for the plenary while their counterparts allied to Azimio la Umoja supported the establishment of the committee. The plenary consists of a sitting of all Senators.
“The impeachment motion against Kawira Mwangaza, Governor of Meru County, brought to the Senate by the County Assembly of Meru will be heard and determined by way of a Plenary," ruled Kingi.
Senate speaker Amason Kingi during his maiden speech on September 8, 2022. /STANDARD DIGITAL
"The matter will be heard and determined within 10 days. There are a total of 7 charges against the Governor."
Senate Minority Whip and Narok Senator Ledama Olekina, while moving the motion, rallied the House to support the committee motion, arguing that the only way to give the people of Meru and the governor an opportunity to get justice as it is more thorough.
“I don’t care how people will vote but I want to persuade you that a committee route will give you and myself an opportunity to read a report already investigated by the committee. I am happy to propose the committee way because they will go through the documents and give us their findings and recommendations,” said Olekina.
Senator Olekina even went ahead to propose senators Abdi Haji (Garissa), Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu), Peris Tobiko (nominated) and Crystal Asige (nominated) as well as Enoch Wambua (Kitui), Esther Okenyuri (nominated), Karungó Thang’wa (Kiambu), Shakila Abdalla (nominated), Ali Roba (Mandera) and Okiya Omtatah (Busia) to be part of the committee.
However, Kenya Kwanza senators rejected the push for the committee with Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot leading calls to consider the plenary motion.
“There is no method that is better than the other and anybody trying to peddle such an argument is misleading the House. Both processes are fair, sound, have good legal basis and deliver the best results,” he argued.
During the proceedings, Kingi read out the seven charges leveled against Governor Mwangaza, the first of which involved alleged misappropriation and misuse of county resources, nepotism and related unethical practices, bullying, vilification and demeaning other leaders.
She also faces accusations of illegal appointments and usurpation of statutory powers, contempt of Court, illegally naming a public road after husband and contempt of the Assembly.
In particular, MCAs claim that the independent governor embezzled county funds through her relatives and withdrew county funds through false claims of payment for supplies and services, adding that Mwangaza paid "full salaries and benefits" for over a year to four high-ranking county officials despite not rendering any services.
On the charge of nepotism, the MCAs claimed that Mwangaza fraudulently represented unqualified relatives as a “technical team” for medical equipment inspection in China.
They also claimed that the governor employed a nephew to her husband, in key County positions, and designated her brother-in-law as Director of External Linkages without transparent and competitive recruitment.
Mwangaza will have the opportunity to appear before the House to defend herself throughout the investigations.
Should the Senate defeat the impeachment motion, it shall not be reintroduced on similar grounds, until after three months. Should it uphold the motion, Mwangaza shall cease to hold office and Speaker Kingi shall notify the Meru County Assembly Speaker accordingly.
If a vacancy occurs, according to section 182 of the Constitution, the deputy governor shall assume office for the remainder of Mwangaza's term.
Mwangaza is banking on the Senate again to save her from being the first governor in President Ruto's first term to be kicked out of a county office in Kenya, after the Senate dismissed a decision by Meru MCAs to kick her out of office on December 30, 2022.
Senator Boni Khalwale's led committee tabled a report on the floor of the house. The Senate resolved to form an 11-member committee to investigate Governor Mwangaza following her impeachment by the Meru County Assembly on December 14, 2022.
