Senators have dismissed charges leveled against embattled Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi while announcing the outcome noted that the house dismissed all the seven charges that Mwangaza was facing.
After two days of hearing, Senators from both sides of the political divide sat to debate and vote over the proposed impeachment.
The Senate commenced prosecuting Governor Mwangaza’s proposed impeachment on Tuesday, November 7.
When asked to plead before the Senate plenary, Mwangaza pleaded not guilty to the allegations by the MCAs.
The Meru Member of County Assembly had tabled seven charges against Mwangaza including abuse of office, misappropriation of funds and creation of county positions without approval.
In addition, the ward representatives accused the governor of naming a road in the county after her husband.
Prior to the voting exercise, both sides had made submissions and presented witnesses before the house.
Also Read: Details of Meru Deputy Governor Poised to Replace Mwangaza Amid Impeachment Motion
On her part, Mwangaza’s legal team led by Elias Mutuma invited witnesses to testify. The lawyers put up a spirited fight in an attempt to absolve the governor from the charges and help their client survive impeachment.
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Later, Mwangaza took the stand and defended herself against the allegations tabled by the ward representatives.
On the charge of misappropriating funds though her Okolea program, Mwangaza affirmed that she had not at any time used county funds to finance the program.
She also reiterated her position that external forces had influenced her impeachment.
Additionally, the governor defended the slogan of “Kaende Kaende” used in her Okolea programs in the county.
Also Read: Governor Kawira Mwangaza Impeached for Second Time
According to her, the slogan means accelerated development contrary to reports stating that the slogan was used to incite.
59 MCAs who Crucified Mwangaza
At the assembly level, 59 MCAs voted in favor of Mwangaza’s impeachment while the remainder of the ward reps abstained.
Her impeachment came on the back of constant wrangles with other leaders in the county.
In the period preceding her impeachment, Mwangaza had accused seasoned political leaders of working to ensure that she was impeached.
Furthermore, the impeachment proposal came barely one year after she survived another attempt by the county’s MCAs- few months into her term.
To the surprise of many, Mwangaza flored seasoned politicians in the county’s gubernatorial contest including the then incumbent Governor Kiraitu Murungi and current Agriculuture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi.
