Governor Mwangaza pleads not guilty to charges against her

By Peter Ochieng

Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza is back at the Senate for a two day impeachment trial, for the second time within a year.

Unlike in December 2022 when the embattled county boss faced a Senate Special Committee, this time she is facing the Senate plenary.

The trial started on Tuesday morning and will end on Wednesday, before the Senators vote in favour or against the governor's impeachment.

She is battling a total of 7 charges, levelled against her by the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) in Meru county.

The charges are misappropriation and misuse of county resources, nepotism and related unethical practices, bullying, vilification and demeaning other leaders and illegal appointments and usurpation of statutory powers.

Others are contempt of Court, illegally naming a public road after husband Murega Baichu and contempt of the Assembly.

Mwangaza pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against her.

In opening remarks, the Assembly lawyers urged Senators to approve impeachment of the first time county boss, given the fact that she is facing the same predicament for the second time in a year.

However, her lawyer Elisha Ongoya in his opening statement said the charges against the governor cannot hold water, adding that they are all false.

Various Senators have pledged to do due diligence in determining the governor's fate.

"As Senate, we will adhere to the Constitution and its principles, act rationally, impartially and without bias, be guided by that which is of evidentiary value to consequently deliver justice to the Governor, County Assembly and the people of Meru," said nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri.

"I've read the charges against the governor of Meru, and I've read her responses to those charges. End of reading," shared Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale.

Former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu and his former Nairobi counterpart Mike Sonko Mbuvi were impeached after facing the Senate plenary.

Kirinyaga's Ann Waiguru and Mwangaza (during the first impeachment) survived after facing a Senate Special Committee.