Kenya – Meru County Governor Mwangaza Faces Another Expulsion As Gen Zs Push For County Dissolution

By Lisbeth Micheni, Kenya

Meru County Assembly is planning a third impeachment motion against Governor Kawira Mwangaza.

This comes after a section of residents drafted a petition to President William Ruto, seeking the dissolution of the Meru County government.

However, Governor Mwangaza said: “Let us seek a fresh mandate if they (MCAs) continue to be sponsored to destroy my work”.

Meanwhile, the Assembly Majority Leader, Patrick Mutuma, said he has seen the petition seeking dissolution of the county.

“I have seen it (petition), but I don’t think it is the best (way). It cannot work because we don’t have an IEBC, and the process is long,” he said.

Mr Mutuma said dialogue should be given a chance.

In the petition dated July 14, nine petitioners want the county government dissolved, saying that the conflict between the executive and the assembly has created two camps in the county, affecting development.

It also emerged that MCAs would start a third impeachment process against Mwangaza for what Deputy Speaker Ali Mwenda and Abogeta MCA Dennis ‘DMK’ Kiogora termed alleged incompetence.

The planned impeachment and petition mark another twist in the muddy political situation in Meru, where most MCAs and MPs have disagreed with Mwangaza, who has accused the two groups of plotting to destroy her.

Mr Mwenda told The Standard the MCAs were out to ‘redeem Meru through oversight and claimed that there was no development happening in the county.

The Deputy Speaker and Kiogora said they would serve a notice of impeachment on Wednesday.

“We are giving notice of impeaching her,” he said.

Mwenda argued that a petition for dissolution was not the best way as there was no IEBC in place, and the process could take a year.

He maintained that the only way to redeem the county is through impeachment.

Kiogora said the petition was not the way to go. “It (petition) is hot air. It is not going anywhere,” he said.

The petitioners argue that the stand-off between the two arms of government, one led by Governor Mwangaza and the other by assembly Speaker Ayub Bundi, have resulted in the objects of devolution not being met as outlined under Article 174 of the Constitution.

“If the objectives of devolution are not being achieved in the county government of Meru, the people respectfully submit that the said county ought to be dissolved at the earliest opportunity,” said the petitioners.

They argued that Mwangaza and the MCAs were operating at the extremes which had created enmity and compromised service delivery to the people.

The decision by the assembly to reject Mwangaza’s seven nominees as County Executive Committee Members (CECs), alter the County Fiscal Strategy Paper 2024/2025 and pass what they termed ‘illegal laws’ are among the petitioners’ arguments for dissolution.

“The MCAs have since vowed that they will not tire until the governor is shown the door, and they are willing to impeach her as many times as possible,” the petitioners claimed.

They further argued that the conflict has also created two camps in the assembly.

The petitioners said they had collected 110,000 signatures in support of their petition, which would pave the way for a fresh election if it succeeded.

“The residents are now asking for a chance to separate the trash from the wheat by being granted an opportunity to send home some leaders and retain others,” the petitioners said.

They said the devolved unit had become a national shame and an object of ridicule.

“Your humble petitioners pray that Your Excellency the President be pleased to find that the grounds in this petition are exceptional circumstances within the meaning of Article 192 (1) (b) of the constitution to warrant suspension of the county government of Meru,” they said.