Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza Impeached
They are gross violation of the constitution,gross misconduct, and abuse of office.
By Dennis Dibondo
Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza has been impeached for the third time after fifth attempt to kick her out sails through.
Mwangaza was hounded out of the office after 49 MCAs voted in support of the motion against 17 who rejected it.
Three members failed to avail themselves to assembly to be able to vote.
Mwangaza will now await the senate decision to know if the house will save her or oust her.
She becomes the first governor to be impeached several times in the country.
The motion on the impeachment of Meru Kawira Mwangaza was voted for on Thursday afternoon.
Nominated MCA Zipporah Kinya accused Mwangaza of three counts.
They are gross violation of the constitution,gross misconduct, and abuse of office.
In the gross violation of the constitution and other laws Kinya said Mwangaza illegally revoked the appointment of Virginia Kawira secretary county public service board.
"It is only the county assembly who have the mandate to revoke the appointment of the secretary county public service board," she said.
The deputy majority leader said Mwangaza failed to appoint the Chairpersons of the Meru County Revenue Board, Meru Microfinance Corporation, Meru Youth Service Board, and Meru County Investment and Development Corporation Board as required by law thus failing to operationalize the said Boards.
She went ahead to state that Mwangaza refused to implement the recommendations and resolutions of the County Assembly requiring the Governor to dismiss the County Secretary, Dr. Kiambi Athiru Thambura, and the Chief of Staff, Mr. Harrison Gatobu Nchamba Mbithi from office for gross violation of the Constitution laws.
She said county secretary Kiambi Athiru and chief of staff Harrison Gatobu have also been illegally hiring and firing staff but Mwangaza did not take any action.
Still on that count of gross violation of the constitution and other laws Kinya accused Mwangaza of Illegally dismissing Dr Ntoiti (CEO of County Revenue Board), Paul Mwaki (CEO of Liquor Board), Kenneth Kimathi Mbae (Managing Director of Meru Microfinance Corporation) and Joseph Kithure Mberia (CEO, MEWASS) in the usurpation of the powers of the appointing authorities contrary to section 9 (7)(b) of the Meru County Revenue Board Act and section 10(6) of the Meru County Investment and Development Corporation Act.
A result of which the County Government of Meru has been slapped with costs and damages amounting to Sh. 4 million by the Employment and Labour Relations Court. On gross misconduct, the nominated MCA said Mwangaza lied to the public, saying that the fundraiser for the family of deceased Daniel Muthiani popularly known as 'Sniper'.
Proceedings at Meru County Assembly on Thursday. Photo/ Dennis Dibondo
"The governor of Meru was in the media saying that She.86 million was raised while only Sh.286,000 was raised,this forced the deceased wife to be insecure as she feared she might be attacked by robber," she said.
She said the county boss deliberately and knowingly mislead the public by giving false information that Sh. 86,000,000.00 had been raised through the Paybill number 247247 Account Number 0400163917899 established after the murder of Daniel Muthiani alias Sniper.
While the correct position is that only Sh.286,516.00 was raised, thus violating the moral and ethical requirements expected of State Officers, contrary to section 19 of the Public Officer Ethics Act and section 29 of the Leadership and Integrity Act.
On abuse of office she said according to the auditors general report the governor has employed 111 workers and out of those 79 cleaners in the office, yet they are not visible.
The workers are paid using the manual payroll. She went on to say Mwangaza paid Christus Manyara a public communication officer with Meru county.
She said Manyara a murder suspect allegedly linked to murder of Daniel Muthiani popularly known as sniper was paid his full salary while still in remand.
"For Meru to get justice, good leadership, good healthcare,good roads and other developments Mwangaza must go," Kinya said as she moved the motion for debate.
Minority leader Mwenda Ithili (Athwana) seconded the impeachment motion.
He said that the governor should have come to the assembly to defend herself against the claims instead of resulting in pay goons to cause mayhem and put members of county assembly at risk.
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