Fresh Petition Filed to Impeach Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza
A fresh petition seeking to oust Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza was on Wednesday filed at the High Court of Kenya
Meru activist, Michael Kibutha accused the Senate of violating the Constitution after voting against upholding the Meru County Assembly’s petition that sought to impeach the Governor.
According to the petitioner, the specific day that Mwangaza was impeached was not gazetted, which he claimed contravened the constitution.
Kibutha in his petition further accused Senate Speaker Amason Kingi of failing to assess the evidence presented by the Meru County Assembly.
In his petition, Kibutha urged the court to quash the Senate’s decision.
“That this honorable court be pleased to issue any other order or relief as it may deem fit and just to ensure that law, order, and constitutionality is observed,” Kibutha noted.
According to Kibutha, the accusations leveled against the Governor were substantiated.
The petitioner argues that the MCAs proved that the Governor had interfered with the Constitutional functions of the County Assembly and violated the Code of Conduct for public officers.
“Despite the allegations of gross constitutional violations, impeachment was not by the legal and constitutional obligations vested in the 5th Respondent and was inconsistent with principles of constitutional governance and the rule of law,” read part of the petition.
On November 9, the Senate for the second time voted against impeaching the embattled Governor holding that Meru MCAs did not prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The Governor had been accused of misappropriation and misuse of county resources, nepotism, bullying and vilification of other leaders, and illegal appointments and usurpation of powers.
She was also accused of contempt of court by illegally naming a public road after her husband and contempt of the Assembly.
The embattled Governor was elected on an independent ticket and has been at loggerheads with the MCAs for a long time.
Fresh Petition Filed to Impeach Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza