Senators Save Kawira Mwangaza From Impeachement
The verdict was made in a special sitting held on Friday afternoon, December 30 after Senator Boni Khalwale's-led committee tabled a report on the floor of the house.
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Embattled Meru Governor, Kawira Mwangaza has escaped having her impeachment confirmed after Senators dismissed a decision by Members of Meru County Assembly (MCAs) to throw her out of office.
The verdict was made in a special sitting held on Friday afternoon, December 30 after 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 Wednesday, December 14.
Senate speaker Amason Kingi during his maiden speech on September 8, 2022. /STANDARD DIGITAL
"After the consideration of charges made against Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, all 11 members of the Special Senate Committee agreed and recommended that none of the charges was proved," Khalwale stated while tabling the report.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi as a result ruled that the senate will not vote or discuss the motion any further, adding that the committee was a creation of the senate and that all senators were represented in making the motion.
"Honourable senators, the committee has found allegations against the governor not substantiated.
"According to standing laws, if the special committee recommends that allegations have not been substantiated, further proceedings shall not be taken in respect of those allegations," the speaker ruled.
"As far as the matter of impeachment of Governor Kawira Mwangaza, that matter is now put to rest," he added further.
In a notice on Tuesday, December 20, the resolution came after the Office of the Speaker of the Senate received a letter from the Meru County Speaker Ayub Bundi notifying Speaker Amason Kingi of Mwangaza's impeachment that came after all 67 Members of the County Assembly (MCA) approved her ouster through a vote.
As enshrined in the 2018 Impeachment Bill, the Senate, by resolution, may appoint a special committee comprising 11 Senators to investigate the matter and report to the House within ten days on whether it finds the allegations against Mwangaza to have been substantiated.
Since the Senate has defeated the impeachment motion, it shall not be reintroduced on similar grounds, until after three months. However, in the event it would have upheld the motion, Mwangaza would have ceased to hold office and Speaker Kingi shall notify the Meru County Assembly Speaker accordingly.
If a vacancy had occurred, according to Section 182 of the Constitution, the deputy governor would have assumed office for the remainder of Mwangaza's term.
The second impeachment motion against her came days after the Meru High Court suspended the first impeachment motion filed against her. Justice Wamae Cherere ruled on Wednesday, November 30 that the County Assembly did not follow the proper procedure in initiating the motion.
She was accused of nepotism, illegal appointments, unlawful dismissals, usurpation of constitutional and statutory functions, incitement, bullying, vilification and misleading campaigns against other leaders.
Other accusations were forceful entry into the assembly and mobilizing unlawful riots against MCAs, violation of public finance management laws and misconduct relating to the nomination of CECs.
