NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 30 – Embattled Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has survived an impeachment attempt by Members of County Assembly (MCAs) after the Senate Committee probing her conduct found that the allegations against her were unsubstantiated.
While presenting the report to the plenary, the committee’s chairman Boni Khalwale indicated that MCAs failed to prove any of the claims they had leveled against her.
“The Committee having investigated the matter in accordance with its mandate under section 33(4) of the County Governments Act and standing order 80(2) of the Senate Standing Orders reports to the Senate that it finds that the five Charges against the Governor of Meru County have not been substantiated,” read the report
The 11-member Senate Special Committee had narrowed down on five allegations to investigate on after the Members of the County Assembly tabled 62 charges pushing for her removal.
The Khalwale-led Committee in its report however noted that the embattled governor had faulted the law in appointing Rufas Miriti as the county secretary without following procedure.
The report indicated that the appointment was a mere public pronouncement without the approval of the Meru County Assembly.
Further, Miriti’s appointment was not actualized with the issuance of an appointment letter as required by law.
“The Committee therefore finds that there was a violation of the law in failing to seek the approval of the County Assembly for the reappointment of the County Secretary but the violation does not meet the threshold for removal from office. The allegation is therefore not substantiated,” the report read.
With Mwangaza having survived the axe, the 11-member committee observed that its evident that the acrimonious relationship between the Meru Governor and the MCAs will bring a crisis in the county.
Senators have recommended urgent measures to be taken to bring the protagonists to the table to iron out the issues.
“The Committee observes that during the proceedings, it became apparent that there the relationship between the County Assembly and the County Governor is acrimonious, contemptuous and cold and threatens to grind the County to a halt. It is inconceivable that in these circumstances the people of Meru County can be enjoying the benefits of devolved government that the Constitution avails,” read the report.
Governor Mwangaza who was seated in the Chamber when the decision was rendered was seen burying her head into her hands in disbelief.
