Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza has been impeached for the third time after the fifth attempt to kick her out sailed through.
Mwangaza was hounded out of the office after 49 MCAs voted in support of the motion against 17 who rejected it.
Three members did not avail themselves at the assembly during the debate on ThursdayMwangaza will await senate decision to know if the house will save her or oust her.
She becomes the first governor to be impeached several times in the country.
Nominated MCA Zipporah Kinya accused Mwangaza with three counts of gross violation of the constitution,gross misconduct and abuse of office.
In the gross violation of constitution and other laws Kinya said Mwangaza illegally revoked the appointment of Virginia Kawira, the secretary county public service board.
“It is only the county assembly that has the mandate to revoke the appointment of the secretary county public service board,” she said.
The deputy majority leader said Mwangaza failed to appoint the Chairpersons of the Meru County Revenue Board, Meru Microfinance Corporation, Meru Youth Service Board, and Meru County Investment and Development Corporation Board as required by law thus failing to operationalize the said Boards.
She stated that Mwangaza refused to implement the recommendations and resolutions of the County Assembly requiring the Governor to dismiss the County Secretary, Dr Kiambi Athiru Thambura, and the Chief of Staff, Mr. Harrison Gatobu Nchamba Mbithi from office for gross violation of the Constitution laws.
She said county secretary Kiambi Athiru and the chief of staff have also been illegally hiring and firing staff but Mwangaza did not take any action.
Still on the count of gross violation of the constitution and other laws Kinya accused Mwangaza of Illegally dismissing Dr John Ntoiti (CEO of County Revenue Board), Paul Mwaki (CEO of Liquor Board), Kenneth Kimathi Mbae (Managing Director of Meru Microfinance Corporation) and Joseph Kithure Mberia (CEO, MEWASS) in the usurpation of the powers of the appointing authorities contrary to section 9 (7)(b) of the Meru County Revenue Board Act and section 10(6) of the Meru County Investment and Development Corporation Act, a result of which the County Government of Meru has been slapped with costs and damages amounting to Sh4 million by the Employment and Labour Relations Court.
On gross misconduct the nominated MCA said Mwangaza lied to the public saying that the fundraiser for the family of deceased Daniel Muthiani popularly known as Sniper.
“The governor was in the media saying that Sh86 million was raised while the amount was only Sh286,000. This caused anxiety to the widow who became insecure as she feared she might be attacked by robbers,” she said.
She said the county boss deliberately and knowingly mislead the public by giving false information that Sh86,000,000.00 had been raised through the Paybill number 247247 Account Number 0400163917899 established after the murder of Daniel Muthiani alias Sniper.
“The position is that only Sh286,516.00 was raised which means she violated the moral and ethical requirements expected of State Officers, contrary to section 19 of the Public Officer Ethics Act and section 29 of the Leadership and Integrity Act.” She said.
On abuse of office she said according to the Auditor General’s report the governor has employed 111 workers and out of those 79 cleaners in the office are nowhere to be seen yet they are paid using the manual payroll.
She went on to say Mwangaza paid Christus Manyara a public communication officer with Meru county.She said Manyara, a suspect allegedly linked to murder of Sniper was paid his full salary while still in remand.
“For Meru to get justice, good leadership, good healthcare,good roads and other developments Mwangaza must go,” Kinya said as she moved the motion for debate.Minority leader Mwenda Ithili (Athwana) seconded the motion.
He said that the governor should have come to the assembly to defend herself against the claims instead of resulting in paying goons to cause mayhem and put members of county assembly at risk.
