Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has been arrested.
Mwangaza was arrested while conducting an Okolea programme in Ruiga Central, Imenti.
Governor Mwangaza confirmed her arrest in a statement released after her arrest.
She however faulted the authorities for failing to proceed with the next steps of the legal processes after her arrest.
According to the Governor, the police officers have ‘detained’ her in the police car.
“I am under arrest. The police officers hawataki kunipeleka Station kufungua mastaka. Have been held in this police car for two hours now,” she said.
“It is disheartening to witness needless curtailment of development efforts meant to help vulnerable in our community such intimidation should not be allowed to obstruct progress in the Meru community,” she added.
The county boss said the law enforcers were sent to interfere with the implementation of the program.
The governor had earlier announced that she would be distributing cows to the needy family, an initiative under the Okolea program.
Multiple reports indicate that the program had earlier been banned by the State.
“This afternoon through a directorate livestock development and fisheries, I delivered a cow and pre-fabricated cow shed to a deserving needy family in Mithatene, Ruiga Central Imenti as part of one Dairy Cow, one needy family program. This initiative funded by the county government of Meru and approved by the county assembly aims at uplifting the lives of the less fortunate,” she said.
The arrest comes even as MCAs on Tuesday lined up seven issues as grounds for her impeachment.
In the first count, the MCAs accuse Mwangaza of misappropriation and misuse of county resources.
They claim the governor has been among others, embezzling county funds using her relatives including sisters, brother and a nephew.
They accuse the Meru governor of making withdrawals of county funds under the guise of payment for various supplies that are made by her relatives.
The MCAs also claimed Mwangaza diverted county resources for personal use.
“Diversion and misuse of county resources including funds and vehicles to run the governor’s charity deemed Okolea despite promising the senate to refrain from conflicting official county officials and Okolea operations,” the Assembly Majority leader Evans Mawira said.
Mwangaza is also accused of Nepotism and unrelated unethical practices, where she is said to have employed her relatives. She is also accused of taking her relatives on overseas trips in the guise that they are experts.
She is also accused of bullying, vilification and demeaning other leaders in the county, illegal appointments, and usurpation of statutory powers.
Mwangaza is also accused of contempt of court, illegally naming a public road after her husband without following statutory procedures and contempt of the Assembly.
If successful, this will be the second impeachment in less than a year.
