By Collins Wanzallah
A pressure group has called upon the Senate to initiate comprehensive impeachment proceedings against Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza. In a press statement, the National Alternative Leadership Forum (NALF) said the proceedings should commence following the governor’s recent impeachment by the Meru County Assembly on August 8, 2024.
The statement was signed by the organization Chairman Fwamba NC Fwamba, Deputy Chairman Ouma Odera, Cathy Irungu Secretary General, and council members Silas Otuke, Mwaniki Maina, Mwenda Gatobu, and Polycarp Meyo. “This ongoing crisis, marked by persistent governance failures and unresolved conflicts, requires immediate and decisive action to restore effective leadership in Meru County,” the statement read in part.
They added that Governor Mwangaza has faced repeated impeachment attempts by the Meru County Assembly due to serious allegations of financial mismanagement, abuse of office, and failure to uphold principles of transparency and accountability. Despite these serious charges, the group claimed that earlier impeachment motions were overturned by the Senate, allowing her to remain in office. They claimed the senate’s failure to act decisively has worsened the administrative dysfunction in Meru County.
NALF insisted that the prolonged conflict between Mwangaza and the County Assembly Members (MCAs) has severely hindered the delivery of essential services to the residents of Meru County. “This persistent squabbling is a clear violation of the principles of devolution as outlined in the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. Specifically, Article 174 emphasizes the need for devolution to enhance public participation in governance and ensure effective service delivery at the local level,” the statement added. According to them, Article 176 of the Constitution requires county governments to promote decentralized governance and service delivery.
They state that Article 179 of the constitution demands that a county governor be accountable to the people and the county assembly, and they felt that Governor Mwangaza had failed to collaborate effectively with the MCAs and that she should resign or be impeached. “Article 192 empowers the National Government to intervene in county affairs under specific circumstances, such as when a county government is unable to perform its functions or when there is a crisis. The prolonged governance crisis in Meru County meets the criteria for such intervention,” they added.
Furthermore, they claimed that Article 231 of the Constitution allows the National Government to assume control of a county government if it is unable to function properly, ensuring that essential services and governance are maintained. The National Alternative Leadership Forum said in the statement that they hold both the governor and the County Assembly responsible for this administrative breakdown, adding that their failure to establish a functional working relationship has created a severe governance crisis that has left the residents of Meru County underserved.
In response to these issues, the National Alternative Leadership Forum demands:
- Immediate Senate Action: The Senate must promptly address the impeachment case forwarded by the Meru County Assembly. Given the severity of the allegations and the shortcomings of previous interventions, a thorough and decisive review is essential.
- Suspension of County Government: Should the Senate uphold the impeachment motion, the National Government should immediately suspend the Meru County Government and assume temporary oversight. This action is necessary under Article 192 to ensure the continuity of essential services and restore effective governance.
The National Alternative Leadership Forum calls on all stakeholders to support these measures to ensure accountability, restore integrity in governance, and uphold the constitutional promises of devolution in Meru County.
