A fresh political storm has erupted in Meru County after former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi alleged that President William Ruto sanctioned the impeachment of former Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
Speaking during a radio interview on Wednesday, Linturi claimed that Mwangaza’s removal from office was orchestrated at State House through lobbying, intimidation and political pressure.
He further alleged that Meru leaders raised KSh100 million to facilitate the impeachment process, a claim likely to intensify scrutiny over the events leading to her ouster.
Linturi said he sought an audience with President Ruto after being approached by three Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) who urged him to request the Head of State’s intervention.
According to him, the discussions focused on what he described as the broader interests of Meru residents rather than the fate of an individual leader.
He recounted that at the time, the impeachment motion was already under consideration in the Senate of Kenya, and claimed the President placed a call to Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi to establish the position taken by local leaders.
Linturi maintained that the feedback confirmed support for the governor’s removal.
However, the allegations have drawn mixed reactions across the county.
Meru Chief of Staff Julius Mbijiwe dismissed suggestions of external interference, insisting that the Senate’s decision was anchored on the weight of evidence presented during hearings and cross-examinations.
He said several of the charges tabled by the Meru County Assembly secured majority backing from senators, providing sufficient constitutional grounds for impeachment.
Mbijiwe, who stated that he followed the proceedings closely, maintained that impeachment processes at both the County Assembly and Senate levels are determined by the strength of the issues raised rather than political influence.
While acknowledging Linturi’s remarks, he said there was no evidence publicly available to substantiate claims of coercion or financial inducement.
Meanwhile, Mwangaza reignited the debate through an emotional statement shared on her social media platforms, accusing unnamed leaders of betrayal and gender bias.
She questioned why the President allowed the Senate process to proceed and suggested that male chauvinism played a role in her political downfall.
Her remarks have galvanized supporters who argue that her removal was driven by entrenched political interests and discrimination rather than the substance of the accusations levelled against her.
The renewed claims are expected to deepen political divisions in Meru County, with leaders offering sharply divergent accounts of what shaped the historic impeachment and whether external influence played any role in the outcome.
Edited by John Majau
