The embattled Meru governor is currently facing a third impeachment motion in the Senate today. Meru County Assembly, on their part, has also defended the third impeachment attempt on Governor Kawira.
Through their lead legal counsel, Ndegwa Njiru, the MCAs assured the senators of having solid evidence to defend their ouster case and have continued to urge the senators to deliver justice for the citizens of Meru County.
“For the third time this cannot be malice or personal vendetta. Accountability is the gateway to earn trust,” he said.
Kawira Mwangaza is not taking this lying down, she has employed the services of six advocates to represent her as she looks to overturn her removal from office. The battery of lawyers includes Elicha Ongoya, Elias Mutuma, Bridah Kimathi, Robert Mutembei, Edgar Busienga, and Collins Mwenda.
Kawira’s Woes
Below are the charges facing the governor:
- Gross Violation of the Constitution
- Gross Misconduct
- Abuse of Office
i. Revoking Appointment of CPA Virginia Kawira Miriti
According to the charges leveled against her, she violated several articles (including 10 (2), 27, 41, 47, 73, 232) of the Constitution by illegally revoking the appointment of CPA Virginia Kawira Miriti as Secretary/CEO of the Meru County Public Service Board.
This was done without the requisite vote from the County Assembly, as required by law, hence usurping the powers of the Assembly. She also breached several sections of the Public Officer Ethics Act, 2003, and that of Leadership and Integrity.
ii. Misleading The Public
The MCAs allege that the Governor misled the public by falsely claiming that only KSh 86 million was raised through a Paybill number. This is after the murder of Daniel Muthiani (Sniper), while the actual amount raised was KSh 286.5 million in violation of the Public Officer Ethics Act and the Leadership and Integrity Act.
iii. Irregular Payments
Kawira is said to have authorized irregular payments of emergency call allowances, to 161 doctors and medical officers using the wrong rates resulting in an overpayment of KSh 74.3 million. This is contrary to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
iv. Abuse of Office
The governor also used a manual payroll to pay personnel emoluments amounting to KSh 102.94 million which is contrary to established financial regulations of the County Financial Accounting and Reporting manual.
The PAU alumnus employed a bloated workforce of at least 111 personal staff in the office of the Governor. This increased the county wage bill beyond the legal limit, violating the Public Finance Management (County Governments) Regulations, 2015; and
v. Refusal to Dismiss Officers as Required By Law
Kawira is said to have played a deaf ear and continued to pay full salary and benefits to a Public Communication Officer accused of murder, in violation of the Public Service Commission Discipline Manual.
Her refusal to implement the recommendations of the County Assembly, on the dismissal of the County Secretary, Dr. Kiambi Atheru Thambura, and the Chief of Staff, Mr. Harrison Gatobu Nchamba Mbithi amounts to a gross violation of the Constitution.
Failure to submit a report to the County Assembly on the implementation of the said resolutions of the Assembly is also a direct violation of the Constitution.
A Stumbling Block
Counsel Boniface Mawira, who is among the Meru County Assembly legal team, persistently put forward that the challenges bedeviling Meru County have emanated directly from poor leadership by Governor Mwangaza who has through and through mismanaged the county affairs.
Bishop Kawira Mwangaza was elected Governor of Meru County in August 2022. She holds a Bachelor of Guidance and Counselling from Kampala International University (KIU), a Bachelor of Arts in Transformational Leadership from Pan African University(PAU), and a Certificate in Human Resources from Makerere. She faced similar allegations in the past two ouster attempts on her governorship.
