Former Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza has dismissed President William Ruto’s upcoming development tour of the county as a sham.
Ms Mwangaza, a long-time ally of President Ruto, said the only project the head of state can commission is “my removal and the new governor in Meru”.
In an early morning post on her Facebook page, Ms Mwangaza hit out at MPs, county assembly members and other leaders, accusing them of focusing on her impeachment from the time she was elected in 2022.
Speaking to a local daily, the former governor vowed to send all her rivals home in 2027 through a big political wave.
“I precisely point it out that the 11 members of parliament, the Senator, current and former cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries and 47 MCAs, in a combined effort of two and half years, have only been able to complete one single project – ‘Governor Kawira Mwangaza impeachment project’. It is the only project the aforementioned leaders can proudly invite the President to launch and commission,” Mwangaza stated.
She claimed that the leaders had made several visits to State House and the deputy president’s residence to beg for her removal.
“They have been to State House so many times but they could not beg for development projects. Some of them could prostrate themselves before the Head of State, urging him to endorse my impeachment. As a result, they have no development to show in their constituencies,” the former governor said.
“I challenge them to show their work. And they should not ride on former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s projects. Despite having been under political turmoil for two years, my work is visible across the county.”
Ms Mwangaza said that while President Ruto remains her friend, he had been wrongly advised to “endorsing her ouster”, adding that she will be unveiling her political party in the next six months.
“Despite my removal from office, I still have the support of the majority of Meru residents. We must send home all political brokers in 2027. I will support President Ruto based on the work he will have done in Meru,” she said.
Mwangaza’s tenure as the Governor of Meru was marked by a series of impeachment attempts and legal battles that culminated in her removal from office.
The first attempt in December 2022 was withdrawn due to procedural lapses, specifically, the failure to debate and forward the motion to the Senate within the required 10-day period.
The second attempt saw the High Court intervening, directing Mwangaza and the MCAs to seek mediation from the Njuri Ncheke elders.
However, the elders declined to mediate, citing the constitutional nature of the issues.
The third impeachment attempt culminated on August 8, 2024, when the MCAs successfully impeached Governor Mwangaza.
The Senate upheld this impeachment on August 21, 2024, with 26 senators voting in favor of the first charge of gross violation of the Constitution and other laws.
Similar votes upheld charges of gross misconduct and abuse of office.
Following her removal, Mwangaza challenged the Senate’s decision in the High Court.
However, on Friday, March 14, Justice Bahati Mwamuye upheld the Senate’s decision, ruling that Mwangaza had been accorded a fair hearing and dismissing her plea to invalidate the gazette notice confirming her removal.
Subsequently, Mwangaza filed an application under a certificate of urgency in the Court of Appeal, seeking to suspend the orders that allowed her deputy, Isaac Mutuma M’Ethingia, to be sworn in as governor, arguing that her appeal raised substantial questions of law and fact.
However, despite the legal challenges, Mutuma was sworn in as the 4th Governor of Meru County on Monday, March 17 at Mwendantu Grounds.
