Meru residents disappointed after some MCAs jump to Mwangaza's ship

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza got a major boost after a section of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) distanced themselves from a proposed impeachment motion.

Mwangaza had pleaded with the MCAs not to be drawn into the county politics, as she accused her political opponents eyeing her seat in 2027 of “misusing” MCAs to further their dreams.

Led by Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee Chairman Jacob Mwirigi, over 10 MCAs announced they had broken ranks with their colleagues supporting the impeachment motion tabled by UDA-nominated MCA Zipporah Kinya.

Kinya, however, remained unfazed as Mwangaza gained more allies in the Assembly. She said the rest of the Assembly would press ahead with the proposed impeachment.

“We still have the numbers,” she told The Standard adding that Mwangaza would be ejected on various charges, including making appointments without the Assembly’s approval and usurping MCAs’ roles.

In jumping ship to Mwangaza’s camp, Mwirigi (Kibirichia Ward) said he and his colleagues thought it was not the right time to pursue the proposed impeachment agenda and proposed dialogue between the Assembly and the county’s executive to iron out the contentious issues.

The 2024-2025 budget is the source of the existing conflict between Mwangaza and the MCAs. Mwirigi said, with the budget-making process still underway, it was not the right time to pursue the impeachment agenda.

Kiirua Naari MCA Jennifer Murogocho, the only elected female MCA in the 45 wards, also advocates for dialogue.

Municipality MCA Caleb Mutethia said more avenues should be pursued to settle the split between the Assembly and Mwangaza.

“A section of us felt that it is important we revisit and look at more avenues instead of going the impeachment way. We feel that, maybe, the problem that we have in Meru is not in the impeachment. It is where leaders have refused to sit and talk. We felt that it was important to create an avenue for dialogue where we can meet the executive and other stakeholders in Meru so that the issue of leadership can be addressed and solved,” said Mutethia.

Sarah Gakii, another nominated MCA, said the timing for the current attempt to eject Mwangaza was inappropriate.

“I have always told my colleagues that we should not rush. The President (William Ruto) asked Njuri Ncheke elders to mediate peace among Meru leaders for cohesion to be restored. That Njuri Ncheke report has not reached the President yet,” said Ms Gakii, adding that dialogue was the way to go.

“We are for dialogue because that will lead to consensus, which will lead to passing the budget,” Kiirua-Naari MCA Jennifet Murogocho said.

But the UDA party’s hand in the latest development threw a spanner in the works.

UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala wrote to Kinya asking her to withdraw the motion, a letter copied to the Speaker Ayub Bundi, Majority Leader Patrick Mutuma and Chief Whip Jim Muchui.

In the letter, Kinya was directed to report to the party headquarters in Nairobi on July 21 “for preliminary discussions on the issue”.

That notwithstanding, public participation forums were conducted in the various wards yesterday.

At the ASK Showground at Gitoro in Municipality ward, the public participation was a heated affair, with residents expressing divergent views on the motion.

While a section of residents accused the Assembly and the convener of the event of a witch-hunt against Mwangaza, others said she had failed in service delivery.

Latif Ahmed, a resident, supported the proposed motion, saying the executive had usurped the powers of the County Public Service Board and sacked staff, compromising services.

Sarah Nkatha, another resident, accused Mwangaza of poor health services, saying some women were sharing beds in maternity wards and there was a lack of medicines in hospitals.

“I have only one reason why I want her out. Poor health services at the maternity department. I support her impeachment. The governor has not delivered on health services, lack of medicines, and hospitals have foul smell,” said Nkatha.

She said she had lost faith in her MCA, Caleb Mutethia, who she claimed supported Mwangaza.

“I realised my MCA will not present my views. I do not see why women should share a bed in maternity, yet the county gets billions of shillings,” she said.