“Muda wa Kwenda Nyumbani”: Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza Ousted in Dramatic Senate Showdown.
In a dramatic late-night session, Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza was impeached, marking the end of her turbulent tenure. Senators, primarily from the Kenya Kwanza coalition, voted overwhelmingly to confirm all three charges against the embattled Governor, sealing her fate in a tense and highly charged debate.
Despite her hopes of surviving a third impeachment motion, this time, the government rallied enough support to remove her from office. The first charge of gross violation of the Constitution and other laws saw 26 Senators voting in favor, 4 against, and 14 abstaining. The second charge followed a similar pattern, with 26 Senators in favor, 2 opposing, and 14 abstaining. On the third charge, abuse of office, 27 Senators voted to confirm, 1 against, and 14 abstained.
“The Senate has resolved to remove from office by impeachment Hon. Kawira Mwangaza, the Governor of Meru County, and the Governor accordingly ceases to hold office,” declared Speaker Amason Kingi after the final vote.
The session, marked by palpable tension, saw Senators emerging from a closed-door meeting visibly charged. Heated exchanges and shouting matches over points of order punctuated the proceedings, adding to the dramatic atmosphere. Majority Whip Bonnie Khalwale, one of the few who did not support the Governor’s removal, challenged the Speaker on procedural grounds, invoking historical parliamentary figures such as Martin Shikuku, Jean Marie Seroney, Chelagat Mutai, and JM Kariuki to underscore his argument.
“I am reflecting on the history of Parliament. If Martin Shikuku were alive, Jean Marie Seroney, Chelagat Mutai, JM Kariuki—they would have wanted the Speaker to settle the important issue of matters in this case that are actively before the courts because they are sub judice,” Khalwale argued passionately. However, Speaker Amason Kingi quickly ruled him out of order, threatening to eject him from the chamber if he persisted. “Don’t push me into throwing you out; take your seat,” the Speaker ordered.
The drama escalated further when the Speaker instructed the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove Nominated Senator Beth Syongo from the chamber. This order sparked an uproar, with female Senators wailing and protesting what they perceived as harassment by the orderlies.
Governor Kawira Mwangaza, who fought hard to retain her position, now faces the daunting prospect of taking her battle to the courts if she wishes to continue serving the people of Meru. With her removal, the focus now shifts to the future of Meru County, as the political landscape is set to shift in the wake of this significant decision.
Article By Suzy Nyongesa.
