Senator Olekina Warns Impeached Meru Governor As Fate Sealed By Politics Not Justice
The fate of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, who was impeached last week, will ultimately be determined by political considerations rather than legal evidence, according to Narok Senator Ladama Olekina.
Olekina spoke candidly about the impeachment process on Monday morning, August 12, 2024, emphasizing the political nature of the proceedings.
“In reality, impeachment is not really a legal matter, impeachment is a political matter,” Olekina stated during an interview on a local TV station.
“You find that even in the Senate we will be sitting down there going through evidence and evidence but ultimately the decision will just be political.”
The unfortunate reality @Tuko_co_ke once a Governor is impeached by a county assembly it does not matter whether the president dissolves the county, the Senate must deal with the impeachment! If the Senate confirms the impeachment article 75(3) of the constitution takes effect .
— Sen. Ledama Olekina (@ledamalekina) August 10, 2024
Olekina’s comments come as the Senate considers whether to uphold or dismiss Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s impeachment.
He suggested that the political dynamics within the Senate may overshadow the legal arguments presented.
“We’ve got a serious crisis in a county like Meru,” Olekina continued.
The Narok Senator emphasized the apparent disconnect between the electorate’s will and the actions of specific political factions.
“The citizens seem to be speaking one thing by electing a woman governor, but there seems to be a cabal determined to bring confusion in the governance of that county.”
On August 8, 2024, the Meru County Assembly impeached Governor Kawira Mwangaza for the third time, following a motion presented by UDA MCA Zipporah Kinya.
Out of 69 MCAs, 49 approved the motion, 17 opposed it, and three abstained.
In the impeachment motion, Kinya accused Kawira of three major offenses: gross violation of the Kenyan Constitution, violations of national and county laws, and abuse of office.
This is the third time the assembly has successfully impeached Kawira after two previous attempts were stopped by the Meru High Court.
Kawira was impeached for the first time on December 14, 2022, making him the first county leader to face such action after only three months in office.
All 67 MCAs present at the session voted to remove her due to allegations of abuse of office.
However, an 11-member special Senate committee later found the charges unfounded, saving her from removal.
On October 25, 2023, 59 of the 69 MCAs voted in favor of her impeachment.
MCA Evans Mawira filed this motion, accusing Governor Kawira Mwangaza of grossly violating the Constitution and the County Government Act, citing misuse of public resources and mismanagement.
However, like a cat with multiple lives, Kawira survived the second impeachment when the majority of 47 elected senators voted to save her.
Nominated senators were not permitted to vote.
During the second impeachment, charges included misappropriation and misuse of county resources, nepotism, unethical practices, and vilification of other leaders.
Kawira also made unlawful appointments, usurped statutory powers, contempt of court, and illegally named a public road after her husband.
“Pursuant to Article 181 of the Constitution, Section 33 of the County Governments Act and Standing Order 80, the Senate resolves to remove from office by impeachment Kawira Mwangaza, the governor of Meru County, on the seven charges,” Senate Speaker Amason Kingi read before the senators cast their votes electronically.
The majority of elected senators voted against Kawira’s seven charges.
Kawira’s third impeachment has sparked heated debate, with supporters and detractors disagreeing on whether the charges against her are justified.
As the Senate prepares to vote again, Olekina’s remarks highlight the complex interplay of legal and political forces at work in Kenya’s impeachment proceedings.
Senator Olekina Warns Impeached Meru Governor As Fate Sealed By Politics Not Justice
