NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 28 – The Senate will convene on Friday for a special sitting to determine the impeachment fate of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
The special sitting was convened by Speaker Amason Kingi for two main agenda’s including the swearing in of new Bungoma Senator David Wakoli Wafula.
“Notice is given to all Senators that pursuant to Standing Order 33 (1) of the Senate Standing Orders, on the request of the Senate Majority Leader and with the support of the requisite number of Senators, I have appointed Friday, 30th December, 2022, as a day for a special sitting of the Senate. The sitting shall be held in the Senate Chamber, Main Parliament Buildings, Ground Floor, Nairobi, commencing at 2.30 p.m. The business to be transacted at the sitting shall be the — (a) swearing-in of David Wakoli Wafula, the Senator-elect for Bungoma County; and (b) consideration of the Report of the Special Committee on the Proposed Removal from Office, by impeachment, of the Governor of Meru County,” Kingi said in a special Gazette Notice issued Wednesday.
A Special Committee of the Senate led by Kakamega’s Bonny Khalwale conducted hearings on Mwangaza’s impeachment in which they heard from the county assembly and the Governor’s Chief of Staff. The Governor declined to be cross-examined, sparking outrage from a section of Senators who accused her of denying them the opportunity to ventilate on the matter for a fair determination.
The committee was set to retreat after Wednesday’s hearings to prepare a report that will be tabled in the Senate on Friday’s special sitting.
The report will either uphold the impeachment of Mwangaza by the County Assembly or reject it.
Mwangaza was impeached on December 14, 2022 after 68 MCAs voted in favour of a motion sponsored by Abogeta MCA Denis Kiogora.
She is accused of nepotism, illegal appointments, unlawful dismissal of the constitution and statutory functions of county organs. She denies all the allegations.
She is also accused of appointing her husband Murega Baicu as the Hustlers Ambassador and Youth Patron alongside other roadside appointments of county workers.
The MCAs also accused the Governor of directing Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital to spend all revenue at source, directing county officers to participate in advancing the interest of Baite TV, a private media station, and misconduct relating to the nominating of County Executive Committee Members.
