Meru women back Governor Kawira Mwangaza's impeachment

A group of women leaders from Meru County have rejected claims that Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s impeachment was a gender issue.

The women claimed that the removal of Mwangaza as Meru Governor as well as the misfortunes that befell her are not because she is a woman, but because she lacks experience and the ability to lead.

They have urged the Council of Governors (CoG) and national leaders not to interfere with the decisions of the County Assembly.

They cited other impeachment processes such as Nairobi during the 2017-2022 terms where national leaders and the CoG did not interfere.

The union also asked national leaders to be guided by the decision of the President and his deputy to allow Meru residents to solve their problems, while claiming that they are correcting the mistakes made during the elections.

“The one year in office Kawira Mwangaza has proven to be the face of impunity, the face of destruction, the face of discrimination and she has also proven to be the face of disunity and that is why we, the women of Meru as a whole, support the impeachment of Kawira Mwangaza,” said Karimi Njeru.

“Tunaomba Senate tafadhali, tuliwaletea Kawira the very first time na mkaturudishia mkampatia chance ingine. Tafadhali Meru is in a mess, hakuna maendeleo unaeza sema hii imeletwa na gavana ni kama gavana wetu hajui kupanga vitu zake tafadhali, ni kama she is an illiterate hata siwezi sema she’s a semi-illiterate,” Mugure Wahome added.

The Court of Appeal in Nyeri on Friday dealt a blow to Mwangaza after the three-judge bench dismissed her petition seeking to block her impeachment.

Justices Jamila Mohamed, Luka Kimaru and Aggrey Muchelule ruled that the court lacks jurisdiction to consider her petition.

“This court lacks jurisdiction in the first instance to consider the merits of the applicant’s application which sought conservatory orders before the impeachment process has run its constitutional and legal course,” reads the court documents.

Mwangaza was unanimously impeached on Wednesday by the Meru County Assembly with all 59 MCAs present voting in support of the motion tabled to remove her from office. Ten MCAs were absent.

They accused Mwangaza of misuse of public funds, gross misconduct, and contempt of the county assembly and court among other charges.

Being the second time since she was impeached in 2022, her fate lies with the Senate which is expected to uphold or overturn the impeachment.