A week after Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza survived a second impeachment in the senate, the relationship between the County Executive and the assembly continues to be broken.
Just as the dust settles, a Meru resident who wants the Senate decision set aside has moved to the High Court. Michael Kibutha wants the court to find that Governor Mwangaza was procedurally impeached for gross violation of the Constitution.
On the other hand, another resident named Henry Muriithi has petitioned President William Ruto to dissolve the Meru County government as it is “irretrievably broken and completely dysfunctional.”
“The stalemate has resulted in the objectives of devolution not being met as is foreseen under Article 174 of the Constitution. If the objectives of devolution are not being achieved in the county government of Meru, the people submit that the county ought to be dissolved at the earliest opportunity,” Muriithi’s petition reads.
Now, Governor Mwangaza has welcomed the calls to dissolve the county government, saying she is ready to seek a fresh mandate from electorates if that will be the case.
“There are many organisations collecting signatures to dissolve the Meru County. As the governor, I think they should do what is good, if that (dissolution) is how citizens will get help, I will support them,” Mwangaza said on Thursday.
The Governor went on to say that despite the backlash she has faced from the Members of County Assembly and other leaders, she has served the people diligently.
“There is no governor who has been impeached three times in a year. And despite the suffering, I have worked and ensured the absorption of the budget to the tune of 72%. It was hard because of the challenges. If God and the people see it fit, they will re-elect me,” she stated.
In the motion to impeach Mwangaza, MCAs accused her of misappropriation and misuse of County resources, Nepotism and related unethical practices, Bullying, vilification and diminishing other leaders, Illegal appointments and usurpation of statutory powers, Contempt of Court, illegally naming a public road after her husband and contempt of the Assembly.Though, on November 8, a Senate plenary failed to uphold the impeachment.
Article By Suzy Nyongesa.