Governor Mwangaza to know her fate today

By Peter Ochieng

It is D-day for embattled Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza.

The first term county boss will know her fate at the end of today, after a two-day impeachment trial at the Senate that started on Tuesday.

Mwangaza, elected as an independent candidate in August 2022 is back at the Senate for the second time within a year, after she survived an impeachment motion last December.

Senators will either vote to uphold her impeachment as demanded by the Meru County Assembly, or dismiss the seven charges levelled against her.

The governor, through her lawyers will have two hours to plead her case in the Senate plenary before the vote on her case.

MCAs, through their Counsel will make their closing statements from 2pm, before Mwangaza gets her two hours from 4.30pm.

She is expected to know her fate from 6:30pm onwards. At least 24 of the 47 elected Senators will be required to vote in favour of the motion, to uphold her ouster from office.

The first charge against her is misappropriation and misuse of county resources, where she is being accused of embezzling county funds through her sisters; Rose Gwantai and Miriam Gwantai, as well as her brother Kenneth Gwantai, brother-in-law Nephat Kinyua and the nephew to the governor’s husband Edwin Mutuma, all of whom are now collectively being referred to as the governor’s relatives.

The second charge is nepotism and related unethical practices, with claims of among others, assigning diplomatic duties namely engagements with foreign diplomats and dignitaries to her unqualified sisters namely Miriam Gwantai (Personal Assistant) and Rose Gwantai (Bodyguard).

She is also being accused of bullying and vilification of other leaders, illegal appointments and usurpation of statutory powers, illegally naming a public road after her husband Murega Baichu, contempt of court and contempt of the Assembly.

The governor on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to all the charges against her.