Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza [Photo: K24]
Justice Wamae Cherere of the Meru High Court has barred the impeachment motion against Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
In her ruling, Cherere noted that the Meru County Assembly did not follow proper procedure in initiating the motion.
“It is the singular authority of the court to deal with threatened violations before they happen and to give appropriate reliefs including conservatory orders in terms of Article 23 (3) of the constitution,” ruled Cherere.
“It is therefore ordered that the impeachment motion dated November 21 by MCAs and scheduled for debate on November 30 at 10:00 am is flawed and is quashed,” she added.
The Meru County Assembly Speaker Ayub Bundi Solomon said the House will obey the rule of law.
The assembly however has vowed to revisit the impeachment motion.
“The County Assembly of Meru will not debate on the Motion for the Impeachment of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza that was scheduled for today, Wednesday, November 30, 2022. This follows conservatory orders issued by Justice Thripisa Cherere in Constitution Petition No E024 of 2022, sitting at the Meru High Court,” said Bundi in a press release.
“We have an obligation to respect the orders of the court as it has already pronounced itself, and the assembly will abide by the orders therein,” he added.
The impeachment motion was tabled by Abogeta West MCA Dennis Kiogora, accusing the governor of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and violation of laws.
68 out of 69 MCAs voted in favour of the motion which was the culmination of a protracted push and pull between the two parties.
In addition, a section of Meru locals backed the motion.
They argued that Mwangaza’s refusal to allocate funds for the Ward Development Fund, as demanded by the MCAs, would deprive them of the required development projects.
On her part, Governor Mwangaza remained adamant that she had not violated any law and maintained that the accusations levelled against her were ill-motivated.