The truth of the matter is that there is no love lost between Raila Odinga and Rigathi Gachagua, and since Mr Odinga is aware of the DP’s intentions, he is likely to rally his troops to save the governor to humiliate Mr Gachagua. Analysts say a combined force of Ruto and Raila outnumbers Senators allied to Mr Gachagua by far, and chances are very high that the senate might once again save her
By The Weekly Vision Team
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s impeachment on Wednesday is expected to fall again once it is presented on the floor of the Senate. President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga are expected to whip their members in the Senate to come to Mrs Mwangaza’s aid again after it emerged that powerful politicians from the county are out to send her home with the backing of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
According to sources well-versed in this matter, Mr Gachagua has an interest in Meru County as part of his political scheme to consolidate the Mount Kenya region under his control. Kawira Mwangaza was elected governor on an independent ticket but tends to lean towards the Kenya Kwanza administration. Mr. Gachagua, on the other hand, wants her out of office since she has failed to toe the line. Mr. Gachagua publicly declared that he would not intervene to save her at the Senate, while President Ruto called for reconciliation among the Meru County political and religious leaders.
Meru County MCAs are said to be plotting for deputy governor Isaac Mutuma to succeed Kawira now and beyond 2027; they also say they will elect a governor of their choice should the Senate fail to uphold Mwangaza’s impeachment. State House operatives are, however, aware of Mr. Gachagua’s involvement in the impeachment and are also plotting to counter his efforts at the Senate. Unconfirmed reports indicate that Kawira’s allies have reached out to Azimio leader Raila Odinga to help lobby Azimio-allied senators to save her.
Mr. Gachagua’s allies are also said to be lobbying to have sufficient numbers to uphold the impeachment. It will be a total showdown in the Senate as Raila Odinga and President Ruto’s allies try to gang against Gachagua’s forces. The truth of the matter is that there is no love lost between Raila Odinga and Rigathi Gachagua, and since Mr Odinga is aware of the DP’s intentions, he is likely to rally his troops to save the governor to humiliate Mr Gachagua. Analysts say a combined force of Ruto and Raila outnumbers Senators allied to Mr Gachagua by far, and chances are very high that the senate might once again save her.
It is also being whispered that President Ruto’s handlers are now daring the Gachagua’s camp for a popularity contest in Meru, with speculation swirling that the president can invoke Article 192 (suspension of a county government) and disband it and call for fresh elections of the governor, deputy governor, the speaker, and the MCAs. It is an open secret that Kawira Mwangaza and the MCAs cannot work together for the remainder of the term, and the only available option if reconciliation fails is the suspension of the county government.
Under this article, the president shall constitute an independent commission of inquiry to investigate allegations against the county government, and if the president is satisfied that the allegations are justified and the Senate has authorized the suspension, then during a suspension under this article, arrangements shall be made for the performance of the functions of a county government by an Act of Parliament. A suspension under this Article shall not extend beyond a period of ninety days, and on the expiry of the period provided for under clause (5), elections for the relevant county government shall be held. If the president suspends the county government, all MCAs shall lose their seats, including the executive.
But even as the senate now prepares to discuss her impeachment, Kawira’s advocate, Dunstan Omari, has shocked the county assembly that they have impeached a non-existing governor.
The advocate further claimed that the person the county assembly impeached did not exist. According to the lawyer, the MCAs used the name of Bishop Kawira Faith Mwangaza in the public participation exercise ahead of the impeachment proceedings. “Who is that person? You were present when she (Mwangaza) was being sworn in by the judiciary. There was nobody sworn in by the judiciary called Bishop Kawira Faith Mwangaza. We have the judicial certificates here,” Omari stated.
