By Salim Mutuma
Human rights activist and Meru resident Salesio Thuranira has petitioned Meru County Assembly to initiate an impeachment proceedings against embattled Governor Kawira Mwangaza over alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office.
The activist Thursday presented a petition to the Assembly clerk seeking to have Ms Mwangaza removed from office for violating and threatening the constitution and other legal provisions.
He cited appointment of Francis Mugai as General Manager of the County Revenue Board on August 30 and sending her husband Murega Baicu to a stakeholders function by USAid on September 9 among the violations by the Governor who was elected on an Independent ticket.
Mr Thuranira said the board appointment contravened Section 6 of the Meru Revenue Board Act 2014 that required that such appointment undergo a competitive process and be approved by the County Assembly.
“Mr Baicu is not a state officer and is therefore not allowed to transact any business on behalf of the county government of Meru,” the petition reads in part.
Further he says, the Governor illegally appointed Mr Rufus Miriti as the County Secretary contrary to section 44 of the County Government Act No. 17 of 2012 and “that is the reason his name was not forwarded to the Assembly for vetting purposes”.
The activist says the Governor on October 3 after her husband visited Igoji Meru Youth Service centre, declared the owner of the leased facility as thieves, in a Facebook post, without tangible facts.
Ms Kawira on October 19 allegedly stormed the County Assembly chambers with goons dishonoring the House and five days later humiliated a ward representative in public and incited residents against the leader during a meeting in Akithi ward, Tigania West.
The constitution activist has also cited earlier concerns by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission on recruitment of the Governor’s husband and her two sisters.
“She has employed her sisters as a body guard and personal aide. The husband of her PA (brother-in-law) is her official driver. Her cousin is the county government spokesperson and her husband the MYS patron which is an illegality,” Mr Thuranira’s petition indicates.
He appealed to the County Assembly to treat the petition as urgent in the interest of the public.
“I pray that the County Assembly initiate an impeachment motion against the Governor over gross misconduct and abuse of office and that she be summoned to respond to the allegations,” Mr Thuranira said.
The Governor has been at loggerheads with the MCAs with their differences playing out during her recent address in the County Assembly where all the legislators walked out.
