Lights out for Mwangaza as Meru gets new governor

Mutuma was sworn in on Monday in a radiant ceremony as attendees could not hide their elation.

Mwangaza, who had survived two impeachment cases at the Senate, was dealt the final blow on Friday, March 14, after the High Court upheld the Senate’s decision to impeach her on August 21, 2024.

In its ruling, the court stated that the Senate had acted within the Constitution during Mwangaza’s removal process.

It dismissed her claims that the impeachment was marred by irregularities, stating that she had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support her allegations.

"This court finds that the amended petition is without merit and dismissed. The gazette notice published on 21 August 2024 to remove her from office is affirmed," ruled Justice Bahati Mwamuye.

The first-time governor, who won on an independent ticket, now becomes the first county chief to be impeached after the August 9, 2022 elections.

The majority of the Senators voted on each of the three charges, presented by the Meru County Assembly. The charges included gross violation of the Constitution, gross misconduct, and abuse of office.

Her tenure has been plagued with woes and differences with MCAs, who have been hell-bent on her exit since tabling the first ouster motion in November 2022. 

Following her victory in the 2022 elections, she said her success was a prophecy come true. 

From a historic rise to the gubernatorial seat to a sharp downfall orchestrated by the MCAs, Mwangaza’s first term has been one for the history books.

In September 2023, she left tongues wagging after naming a rehabilitated road after her husband Murega Baichu, a musician.

Mwangaza took to social media to share photos of the road under rehabilitation, calling it Murega Baichu Road. The road connects Kirung'a to Muthalankari area. 

"Murega Baichu Rd. Hakuna boiling tena," Mwangaza captioned the photos.

Citizen Digital understands the road leads to her father-in-law's compound, perhaps the reason she named it after her husband.

Her trial in politics started in 2013 when she unsuccessfully vied for an MP seat for Buuri constituency.

"After the 2013 campaign, I realised that I had spent Ksh.20 million. I was broke and heavily indebted. My husband and I relocated to Ruai where we sold onions and tomatoes as we tried to recover financially," said Mwangaza in her first media interview.

Kawira and Baichu then decided to try their luck in the media industry and it was there when Baite TV was created.

As the station grew popular, Kawira said pressure from the people of Meru got her to take another stab at politics in 2017, clenching the Meru County Woman Representative seat.

Mwangaza is also a bishop at Baite Family Fellowship church.