Senate speaker, Amason Kingi, on Tuesday, December 20, formed a special committee to probe the ouster of Meru governor, Kawira Mwangaza.
Uasin Gishu senator, Jackson Mandago, and his counterpart from Kakamega Boni Khalwale were part of the 11-member committee dominated by Kenya Kwanza.
Besides Mandago and Khalwale, Kenya Kwanza was represented by Karungu Thang’wa (Kiambu), Esther Okenyuri (nominated), Ali Roba (Mandera), Peris Tobiko (Kajiado), and Eddie Oketch (Migori).
Azimio La Umoja had Nairobi senator, Edwin Sifuna, and senators Joseph Githuku (Lamu), Agnes Kavindu (Machakos), and Johnes Mwaruma (Taita Taveta).
Kingi tasked the committee with investigating the impeachment motion and demanded a report within 10 days.
“The committee will investigate the proposed motion of removal of office of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza. They should report to the Senate whether or not it found the particulars of the allegations against the governor to have been substantiated,” Kingi stated.
On December 15, the Meru county assembly submitted the motion to the Senate after 67 out of 68 MCAs present approved the removal of Kawira from office through impeachment.
The motion was tabled by the leader of the Minority Dennis Kioroga before the Meru county assembly where Kawira had refused to appear before the assembly.
Meru MCA provided clips from Mwangaza TV, a media house owned by the governor’s husband, as evidence against Mwangaza.
Kawira was accused of violation of office by hiring family members, including his husband Murega Baichu, to county jobs. She, however, dismissed the claims noting that her husband was working for free.
In addition, she was accused of sideling members of the county assembly in making key decisions.
This was the second impeachment motion against the governor since she took oath in August 2022.
On Wednesday, November 30, the court halted her first impeachment of the governor, ruling that the MCAs did not follow the proper procedure in initiating the motion.
