Beleaguered Meru Governor Kawira to face Senate Plenary next week
Impeached Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza will on Monday and Tuesday next week appear before senate plenary for the second time to defend her continued stay in office after senators rejected an
attempt to have a select committee discuss her matter.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi who announced the dates when the matter will be heard, directed that
all the responses from both county assembly and Mwangaza’s office to be submitted to the senate by
Sunday 18.
Mwangaza is being accused of illegally revoking the appointment of Virginia Miriti as Secretary of the Meru County Public Service Board, without a vote of not less than 75 percent of all the members of the
County Assembly and in usurpation of the powers of the County Assembly contrary to sections 58(4)
& (5) and 59A of the County Governments Act.
Said Kingi: “The clerk to issue an invitation to appear to the parties on Wednesday 13, the parties to
file the responses by Saturday the August 17 at five PM. The clerk to circulate the documents received
by the parties including the plenary hearing by close of business Sunday five PM. The Senate shall
investigate the matter in plenary on Monday August 19 and on Tuesday August 20.
The decision of the speaker came after senators from both sides of the house ganged up and shot down a motion brought by Majority whip and Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale that had proposed 11 senators to investigate her removal from office and table a report to the house for either adoption or rejection.
In the motion, Khalwale had proposes that the special committee comprises Hillary Sigei (Bomet),
Abdul Haj (Garrissa), Wahome Wamatinga (Nyeri), David Wafula (Bungoma), Gloria Orwoba (Nominated), Karen Nyamu (Nominated), Boy Issa Juma (Kwale), Eddy Oketch (Migiori), Shakilla Abdalla (Nominated), Betty Montet (Nominated), MP and Beatrice Akinyi (Nominated).
Said Khalwale: “ Now therefore pursuant to section 33(3) (b) of the County Governments Act and
Standing Order 80(1) (b), the Senate resolves to establish a special committee to investigate the proposed removal from office of the Governor of Meru County and pursuant to standing order 80 (2), to report to
the Senate, within ten (10) days of its appointment, on whether or not it finds the particulars of the allegations against the Governor to have been substantiated.”
He added: “This is the fifth time the senate is being called to perform its duties. I want to ask colleagues to reflect on this motion, whether we shall be doing the very best of what is expected of us if we allow a special committee to inform us or we go the plenary way. “