Meru MCAs have opened a new war front with embattled Governor Kawira Mwangaza, hours to the March 14 High Court ruling on her petition against the Senate resolution to remove her from office by impeachment.
The ward reps have kicked off a series of impeachment and censure motions targeting eight out of 10 Ms Mwangaza’s county executive members.
If the MCAs’ plans succeed, they will have sent packing the embattled governor’s government.
On Wednesday, Igembe East MCA Titus Murithi tabled a notice of motion for the impeachment of Health Executive George Mungania.
The assembly also established a 10-member ad-hoc committee to investigate allegations of corruption, wastage of public resources, illegal procurement, and employment irregularities within the county executive.
The committee is expected to summon witnesses, request documents, and table a report within two months.
According to an order paper seen by Nation.Africa , more notices of impeachment and censure targeting eight county executive committee members are slated during a special sitting today (Thursday).
Among the executive members targeted for impeachment are County Secretary Kiambi Atheru, Ibrahim Mutwiri (Finance), Thurania Ithana (Roads and Transport), Benjamin Mungania (Youth and Sports), and Dickson Munene (Legal affairs and Public service).
Those targeted under censure motions are Jackson Muthamia (Water), Yusuf Kithure (Education), and Harriet Makena (Trade).
In December 2023, the assembly had impeached four members of the executive including Mr Atheru and Dr Mungania. The governor defied the county assembly and refused to fire them.
According to the notice of impeachment against the health executive, Mr Murithi cites gross violation of the constitution and laws, abuse of office, gross misconduct, and incompetence.
He is accused of illegally appointing Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital CEO without following the law.
“By usurping the powers of the Board of Directors of the Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital and the Governor to appoint the said Chief Executive Officer/Director of the Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital… the CECM was complicit in the abuse of office,” the charge reads in part.
Mr Murithi said he had also established several instances of misappropriation of funds in the construction of health facilities across the county.
In the second impeachment motion, Abogeta West MCA Dennis Kiogora cites the finance executive for alleged gross violation of the constitution, abuse of office, incompetence, and gross misconduct.
Mr Mutwiri is on the spot for allegedly failing to submit various policy documents, reports, and records under summons and within the statutory timelines.
He is also accused of not implementing the county fiscal strategy paper, 2024 as approved by the County Assembly of Meru.
The Finance executive is also facing an ouster for “authorising, approving payments, and or, facilitating the of manual payroll to pay personnel emoluments amounting to Kshs. 22.26 million during the first quarter of Financial Year 2024/2025 contrary to Section 6.7.6 of the County Financial Accounting and Reporting Manual.”
Majority whip Jim Muchui also wants the roads executive ousted for “repeatedly failing to respond to summonses from the County Assembly, undermining legislative oversight.”
He is also fingered for not submitting key documents as requested during summons by the county assembly.
“The county secretary has overstepped their authority by assuming powers that rightfully belong to the Public Service Board... This unlawful action not only undermines the principles of devolution and proper public service governance but also sets a dangerous precedent of executive overreach,” nominated MCA Mwenda Kiriinya argues.
Mikinduri MCA Julius Miriti wants the Youth Affairs executive fired for allegedly failing to account for activities within their docket and respond to issues of public concern raised by the Assembly.
Mr Mungania is also accused of failing to distribute sports equipment equitably, negligence, and mismanagement of county resources.
The county legal affairs executive is also in trouble for alleged gross negligence and financial mismanagement by failing to address persistent irregularities in the payment of personnel emoluments.
Mr Muthamia, Mr Kithure, and Ms Makena are facing censure motions for allegedly consistently failing to provide necessary documents as requested by the county assembly hence frustrating the oversight role.
