Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza defends move to kick out MCAs from WhatsApp group

During a press conference to address her ongoing tiff with Members of the County Assembly that has attracted the attention of Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Ms Mwangaza confirmed that she had indeed removed all the MCAs because they were not seeing eye to eye.

"Wengine wanasema wametolewa kwa WhatsApp group, I am the one who created the WhatsApp group, how do you stay in the same group na hamsikizani?" she posed.

Governor Mwangaza also scoffed at critics of her decision, saying that being removed from a WhatsApp group is not a crime that warrants a report to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

"Ukiona group hampelekani, unaleft, na kuleft sio hatia ya kupelekwa EACC, huwezi peleka mtu kwa EACC sababu amekutoa kwa group ama ameleft."

The Meru County boss maintained that the group ended the same way it began: unofficially urging the MCAs to use the official channels to communicate with her, including the requisition for funds.

"Hiyo group ni mpango ya kienyeji na inaisha Kienyeji, hakuna mahali ati ni sheria iko hapo," 

Governor Mwangaza: Wengine wana sema wametolewa kwa Whatsapp group, I’m the one who created the group lakini kwa sababu hatuelewani, inabidi una left group pic.twitter.com/UTr16Zezsj

At the same time, the governor, who is embroiled in a squabble with county MCAs, insisted that she would not succumb to intimidation.

"Hata mkifanya allegations sijui ya kwenda juu au chini, nataka kuwatangazia kwamba serikali ya mama iko imara," she added.

"Mimi kama governor wa Meru I'm not ready to pocket single coin that belongs to mwananchi wa kawaida... I will not be intimidated to be a thief, nataka kila mtu afuate sheria na kila mtu atosheke na mshahara wake," she said.

She urged the MCAs to deal with her deputy when they cannot reach her. 

"Ukikuja ofisi unikose, that is why we have a Deputy Governor," she added.

Meanwhile, the governor, together with Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga was cited by the EACC for illegal appointments.

EACC went after the first-time governor on Sunday, accusing her of violating Chapter Six of the Constitution and various other laws in her running of affairs of the county.

In a letter addressed to Governor Mwangaza by its CEO Twalib Mbarak, EACC in one of the accusations, cites her for nepotism where she employed her spouse, Murega Baicu as the youth service patron and ambassador for hustlers.

EACC 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 as her security personnel.

When Members of the County Assembly staged a walkout as she made her maiden address in the House, they raised issues with the handling of her docket, saying she had declined to receive counsel from them.