Image: Handout
On August 20, 2024, the Kenyan Senate voted to uphold the impeachment of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza. This decision ends Mwangaza's tenure as the county's governor, marking her third impeachment attempt since she took office in August 2022.
The Senate's decision followed a thorough trial process. Senators reviewed two main charges against Mwangaza: gross violation of the constitution and other laws, and gross misconduct. The outcome was a decisive endorsement of the charges.
In the vote, 26 senators supported the charge of gross constitutional violations and other legal breaches. Four senators voted against this charge, while 14 senators chose to abstain.
The second charge, gross misconduct, saw a similar result. Again, 26 senators voted to uphold the impeachment, two voted against it, and 14 abstained. Additionally, the charge of abuse of office was upheld by 27 senators, with one vote against and 14 abstentions.
Speaker Amason Kingi announced the decision, stating that according to Article 181 of the Constitution, Section 33 of the County Government Act, and Standing Order 86 of the Senate Standing Orders, the Senate had resolved to remove Governor Mwangaza from office. This ruling means that Mwangaza is no longer the Governor of Meru County.
The impeachment process began when the Meru County Assembly initially voted to remove Mwangaza from office. This was her third attempt at impeachment, as her previous two attempts were also brought before the Senate. While the first impeachment was handled by a committee, the second and third attempts reached the full Senate for a vote.
During the trial, Mwangaza had the opportunity to defend herself. She spoke about her efforts to resolve conflicts with Meru leaders, mentioning that she had traveled across the county to apologize for any wrongs.
Mwangaza claimed she had apologized as many as 70 times to various individuals, including members of the Meru County Assembly and the speaker. Despite these efforts, the Senate's decision was clear.
Mwangaza's removal highlights ongoing challenges in local governance and political stability. The frequent impeachment attempts suggest significant tensions between the county's executive and legislative branches.
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