Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza is once again at the mercy of the Senate as she prepares to defend herself in a fresh impeachment hearing set to begin this Monday at 9 a.m.
This marks the third time the embattled governor is facing impeachment since taking office in 2022, with proceedings expected to unfold in the Senate’s plenary.
Mwangaza’s legal team, led by seasoned lawyers Elisha Ongoya and Elias Mutuma, will make their case in a high-stakes hearing.
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Mutuma, who has represented the governor in all three impeachment cases, will lead the charge, supported by a robust legal team that includes Bridah Kimathi, Robert Mutembei, Edgar Busienga, and Collins Mwenda.
On the opposing side, the County Assembly, which has been pressing for Mwangaza’s removal, has enlisted a new legal team.
Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru, known for his aggressive courtroom presence, will serve as lead counsel, replacing Muthomi Thiankolu, who represented the assembly in the previous hearings.
Njiru will be joined by a team of eight other lawyers to present the charges against the governor, including gross misconduct, abuse of office, and violations of the constitution.
The County Assembly’s case is spearheaded by Zipporah Kinyua, who sponsored the impeachment motion, accusing Mwangaza of illegally dismissing key county officials and refusing to implement assembly resolutions.
The motion garnered significant support, with 49 MCAs voting for the governor’s removal and only 17 opposing the motion.
The Senate hearing, set to take place over two days, will see the assembly present its case first. The governor’s defense will follow on Tuesday, during which Mwangaza will submit her evidence and face cross-examination.
The decision to handle the case via plenary was made last week when Senators rejected a motion to form an 11-member select committee to review the charges.
All 67 Senators will now participate in the hearing, though only the 47 elected Senators will cast votes on the governor’s fate.
Governor Mwangaza has previously survived an impeachment through plenary, with Senators absolving her of all charges during her second impeachment.
In her first, she faced an 11-member panel, which also ruled in her favor. However, the stakes remain high as the assembly persists in its efforts to remove her from office, alleging a pattern of misconduct and illegal actions during her tenure.
As the Senate prepares for the hearing, debate continues over the best approach to address Meru’s governance issues.
While some Senators argue for the committee process as a means of thoroughly investigating the county’s problems, others, like Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu, believe the plenary offers transparency and justice.
Governor Mwangaza’s future now hangs in the balance, with the Senate once again called upon to decide her political fate.
