Africa-Press – Kenya. Impeached Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s defence team has put up a spirited fight against five charges levelled against her by the County Assembly saying she is a victim of blackmail.
Lawyer Elias Mutuma told the Senate Special Committee probing the accusations against the besieged first-term governor that she in fact deserves to be celebrated as a heroine for standing up against the capture of Meru County.
The lawyer said the entire process of impeaching the governor through a motion tabled by the assembly’s minority whip, Dennis Kiogora, failed the impartiality test.
“The governor of Meru has been a victim of the danger of one story and outright false narrative. Her successes, her leadership, her amenable character and her passion to uplift the lives of the people of Meru have been hashed for political expediency,” he said.
On Tuesday, Kawira pleaded not guilty to all the five charges brought against her including gross misconduct and abuse of power.
Other charges levelled against her are nepotism, illegal appointments, incitement, bullying, vilification and misleading campaigns against the Catholic church and other leaders.
Lawyer Mutuma, however, told the committee that the Meru County Assembly failed to understand its mandate and turned its oversight role into a political weapon contrary to Article 181, section 33 of the County Governments’ Act.
“Impeachment, honourable members, should not be a political weapon. It only provides for us an oversight tool,” Mutuma said.
He said the entire impeachment process should be declared a nullity by the special committee on the grounds that no public participation was undertaken as grounded in the law.
“It is the County Assembly of Meru and the mover of this motion that usurped the role of the public and purported to give views on behalf of the public,” Mutuma said.
Kawira has lined up one witness and she seeks to overturn the impeachment.
The 11-member committee will determine whether accusations against her warrant an impeachment before delivering its verdict by December 30.
“We recognise the right of the parties to be heard. We shall be guided by the law and evidence adduced by witnesses,” committee chairman Boni Khalwale said.
For More News And Analysis About Kenya Follow Africa-Press
