‘I’m ready to discuss,’ Governor Mwangaza to meet Meru leadership over MCAs row

Embattled Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza has now invited the county senator, all Members of Parliament and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) for a consultative meeting to address the ongoing row between her and the Assembly.

Mwangaza in a letter on Monday called Senator Kathuri Murungi, who is also the senate deputy speaker, all Meru MPs led by their Chair Dr. Mutunga Kanyuithia, and MCAs together with their speaker Ayub Bundi  to a meeting on on Thursday, November 3, at her boardroom.

“Meru County Government has been experiencing some misunderstanding for a while between the Executive and the Honourable County Assembly. Key among the causes of these misunderstandings is the Ward Fund, an issue that was captured in my maiden County Assembly opening speech on Wednesday, 19th Oct. 2022, and even now I am ready to discuss it with the Honourable Members of the County Assembly and its management and come up with a workable solution,” she stated.

The governor said Thursday’s meeting has been organised by “many leaders with the interest of Meru people at heart”, like the Council of Governors led by the Chair, Kirinyaga governor Ann Waiguru.

During the October 19 assembly opening speech she referenced,  the Meru MCAs orchestrated a walkout on the first-time Governor on grounds that she was allegedly belittling and ignoring their demands.

The MCAs went as far as barring Mwangaza from accessing the County Assembly's premises, forcing her to make an address outside the chamber.

And last week, a petition was lodged to impeach Mwangaza on accusations of gross misconduct and abuse of office.

The petition, filed by Meru resident Thuranira Salesio Mutuma, argues that Kawira contravened the Meru Revenue Board Act, 2014 by purportedly announcing the appointment of Francis Muigai as the new General Manager of the Meru County Revenue Board without due process and approval of the County Assembly.

The governor is also accused of going against the constitution by sending the first gentleman, Murega Baichu, to a USAID stakeholders’ function, despite the fact that he is not a State officer hence is not allowed to act on behalf of the Meru County government.

Mwangaza is at the same time on the Ethics and Anti -Corruption Commission (EACC)’s radar for nepotism in a case where she is said to have employed Baicu as the youth service patron and ambassador for ‘hustlers’.

EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak, in a letter obtained by Citizen TV further raised an issue with the fact that he was attending official county functions and issuing directives to county workers despite not being a public officer. 

Mwangaza is also accused of employing two of her sisters; one as a personal assistant and another another as her security personnel.