The impeachment motion seeking to remove Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza from office has taken a fresh twist after a section of Njuri Ncheke elders who have been roped in the case by the High Court of Kenya, broke silence.
The Njuri Ncheke Supreme Council of Elders on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, issued a statement on Tuesday after the Court on Monday ordered the council to mediate.
In the case of conflict between Governor Mwangaza and the County Assembly of Meru, the Court had ordered them to seek an alternative resolution to the case and to refer to the advice given by President William Ruto.
The High Court consequently ordered both parties, to appear before Njuri Ncheke council of elders, with their advocates before Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
In the fresh twist however, a section of the elders now deny that the Council sought to be enjoined in Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza impeachment motion.
While saying that it will not mediate, the elders warned politicians in the County against involving the Council in their politics.
“You know this is politics. So, we demand that those who want to play politics to desist from involving the Njuri Ncheke elders in their politics we are not part of politics,” said an elder.
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“Our Meru Community is for us all, but we don’t want to be roped into politics.”
Their stand came just moments before Zipporah Kinya, the Member of County of Assembly (MCA) from Meru County withdrew the latest impeachment motion tabled against Governor Mwangaza.
The motion was the fourth attempt to oust the embattled county chief out of office, adding to the many twists recorded in the never-ending political disagreements in the county.
Njuri Ncheke Roped in Kawira Mwangaza Impeachment Motion
The Njuri Ncheke, as is the case in other tribes in the country with councils of elders, serves as the supreme governing council for the Meru people.
The council’s decrees are authoritative throughout the community, and it represents the pinnacle of the Meru traditional judicial system.
Since the 17th century, the Meru people have been governed by a hierarchical structure of elected councils of elders, from the clan level up to the Njuri Ncheke Council whose membership is the highest social status a Meru man can achieve.
The elders chosen for this council are carefully selected for their maturity, composure, respectability, and integrity which is crucial as their roles demand significant wisdom, personal discipline, and deep knowledge of traditional practices.
The council operates from its main shrine in Nchiru, Tigania West, but also holds sessions at various shrines across Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties.
Functions
Among the core functions of the elders are to make and execute community laws and listen to and settle disputes.
Apart from the Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders, the Meru community has the Njuri Ncheke courts in its justice system.
The men and women elders who sit in these courts, hear and determine all matters but if the parties fail to agree or one is dissatisfied with a ruling given, they escalate it to the sub-county level.
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If the matter is still not resolved conclusively, it is escalated to the Supreme Court which is a six-bench apex court headquartered at Nchii shrine.
In relation to Mwangaza’s impeachment motion, the Court order had detailed that the Njuri Ncheke was to submit its resolution or lack of it on the dispute, as directed by the President Ruto.
Court Order
Justice Linus Kassan was to give a ruling on Monday but instead deferred it to August 20, 2024.
“The Njuri Ncheke Supreme Council of Ameru Elders are hereby ordered to submit their resolution or lack of it on the dispute between the parties herein as directed by the President of the Republic of Kenya not later than three weeks from today,” Justice Kassan ordered.
On July 26, the Meru County Assembly had to stop debating an impeachment motion against Kawira Mwangaza following a High Court order.
The court asked them to temporarily stop the proceedings until it provides further directions. The ruling was preceded by Mwangaza filing a petition challenging the planned impeachment motion on grounds that the proposal was being instigated by her political detractors.
Zipporah Kinya, a Nominated MCA and Deputy Leader of the Majority Party, filed the motion to impeach Mwangaza on grounds of gross violations of the Constitution.
She also accused the governor of violation of various national and county laws, and abuse of office.
The notice of motion by Kinya lists numerous allegations against the Governor, such as illegal appointments and dismissals, financial misconduct, and misleading the public.
Additionally, the Governor is accused of revoking the appointment of CPA Virginia Kawira Miriti as Secretary/CEO of the Meru County Public Service Board without proper authorization and in contravention of the law.
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