Police respond to claims of arresting governor Mwangaza

By Peter Ochieng

The National Police Service (NPS) on Wednesday evenning responded to widely circulated claims of arresting Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza.

NPS in a statement on X said the reports were false.

"Contrary to the false allegations circulating on the social media, the National Police Service wishes to clarify, that Police have not arrested Meru Governor, Hon. Kawira Mwangaza," NPS noted.

The statement however fell short of explaining what actually transpired, after numerous photos shared online depicted the first term county boss in a police vehicle.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that she was whisked away by police from the wrath of angry residents, opposed to her 'cow distribution project.'

The governor in a series of posts online said that she had been arrested and 'detained in a police vehicle' for hours, before being set free.

"This afternoon, through the Directorate of Livestock Development and Fisheries, I delivered a dairy cow and a pre-fabricated cowshed to a deserving needy family in Muthatene, Ruiga, Imenti Central Sub-County, as part of the One Dairy Cow, One Needy Family program," the county boss wrote before the news of 'her arrest filtered through.'

"This initiative, funded by the County Government of Meru and approved by the County Assembly of Meru, aims to uplift the lives of the less fortunate. Unfortunately, law enforcement personnel were dispatched to interfere with the implementation of this program," she stated.

"It is disheartening to witness needless curtailment of development efforts meant to benefit the vulnerable in our community. Such intimidation tactics should not be allowed to obstruct progress in the Meru community. Meru must be happy."

The governor, elected as an independent candidate has had a run in with the Meru Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).

They impeached her last year, months into office before she was saved at the altar of the Senate. MCAs are seeking to impeach her for a second time.