Even as her allegations were revealed, the Senate plenary will today decide whether to impeach controversial Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
The discussion yesterday assumed a political aspect as members from Kenya Kwanza supported the formation of an 11-member special committee to hear and decide the charges against the governor, while Azimio backed the plenary.
Senator Edwin Sifuna of Nairobi seconded the motion and stated that the committee method is the most effective means of impeaching a governor. He also mentioned that the legislation specifies the threshold for impeachment.
The House must determine whether the requirements have been met in terms of facts and evidence. Sifuna stated, “It is nearly improbable that the threshold has been satisfied in an interrogation taking place in plenary on the facts and the law on the claims.
He continued, saying that all 67 senators are accountable for the impeachment of a governor. The ability for our nominated colleagues to weigh in on issues like the impeachment of a governor is one special feature of committees.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot was against the committee’s formation, arguing that neither approach is superior than the other and that both procedures are just, sound, have a solid legal foundation, and produce the greatest outcomes for the particular county.
Specifically, the County Assembly Members allege that Kawira embezzled county funds via the governor’s relatives and stole county funds by making false claims of payment for services and supplies provided by the governor’s relatives, even though Kawira was not qualified to bid on or supply goods to the county government.
Furthermore, the MCAs said that the troubled County Chief misappropriated and diverted County funds while paying four high-ranking County officials “full salaries and benefits” for more than a year.