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Senate upholds Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s impeachment
• Some 26 senators voted to uphold the first charge on gross violation of the constitution and other laws.
• On the second charge on gross misconduct, 26 senators voted in favour of her impeachment, two against, while 14 others abstained.
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has lost her seat.
The development comes after senators upheld her impeachment by the Meru county assembly.
Some 26 senators voted to uphold the first charge on gross violation of the constitution and other laws.
Some 14 senators abstained while four voted in her favour.
On the second charge on gross misconduct, 26 senators voted in favour of her impeachment, two against, while 14 others abstained.
27 senators upheld the charge of abuse of office, one vote against and 14 abstained.
Most of those who abstained are allied to the Opposition parties.
“Pursuant to Article 181 of the Constitution, Section 33 of County Government Act and Standing Order 86 of the Senate Standing Orders, 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,” Speaker Amason Kingi said.
This was Mwangaza’s third impeachment to reach the senate, since she was elected into office in August 2022.
The first impeachment hearing was heard and determined by a committee but the second and third went the plenary way.
The trial started on Monday, where lawyers representing her and the County Assembly faced off.
Mwangaza was accorded an opportunity to present her case before the House.
On the day of the debate of the ouster motion, 49 out of 69 MCAs present in the House voted to support Mwangaza’s ouster.
Mwangaza denied all the charges.
During the hearing, Mwangaza opened up on her relationship with Meru leaders after she was saved from impeachment in 2023.
Mwangaza said she made amends with the leaders in the county after the House advised her to do so.
The Governor noted that she traversed Meru County to apologise to those she might have wronged.
She assured that, at that time, she reconciled with the leaders and had no issues.
“I travelled across Meru, apologising to anyone I may have wronged. At one point, I said sorry 70 times, 69 to each MCA, and once to the speaker. I said sorry 70 times,” she said.