Senate to begin Governor Mwangaza impeachment hearing on Monday

This is after Senators on Wednesday voted against a motion proposing the establishment of a Special Committee to hear the grounds for Mwangaza's impeachment.

"The majority leader moved the motion at order no.8  of the establishment of a special committee to investigate the proposed removal from office by impeachment of Kawira Mwangaza. The motion has been negatived," stated the Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.

"The route of the special committee is abandoned and the Senate will investigate the proposed removal from office by the impeachment of Kawira Mwangaza in plenary pursuant to section 33 (3a) of the County Government Act."

During the voting, most senators underscored the sensitivity of Mwangaza's case saying that the plenary would allow Kenyans and the Meru people to follow up on the case in real time.

In the motion moved by Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, the proposers wanted the matter referred to the Special Committee arguing that being the third impeachment motion against Mwangaza, the committee would be most effective in cross-examining the parties involved.

"The situation of Meru is a very complex one and requires serious thinking because we don't want to make a decision and then we are told to deal with the same. There may be instances where we might need to look at provisions of Article 192 of the Constitution; whether to suspend the county and send everyone home or not. That can be done executively in a committee, in a report which can be sent to the president for action," said Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi

"I know the plenary way is more popular but the most effective one in this circumstance is the committee way. I want to ask members to support the members so that  we deal with this problem once and for all."

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna had also seconded the motion stating that "In my view, then Committee way is a far superior way of interrogating these issues than the plenary manner. The Senate is on recess and it is not fair to drag the entire Senate to sit here just to listen to these allegations."

Following the House decision, the Speaker directed the Senate Clerk to issue invitations for appearance to the parties on Wednesday after which the parties would then be required to file the responses with the office of the Clerk of the Senate before Saturday 5 pm.

The clerk will then circulate documents received by parties to senators before Sunday 5 pm after which the Senate will commence hearing on Monday.

Mwangaza was impeached last week by the county assembly for the third time, with 49 MCAs voting for her ouster. 

During the voting on Thursday, three MCAs did not vote, while 17 others voted against the impeachment motion moved by Zipporah Kinya--the Deputy majority leader.

She cited three grounds, including Gross violation of the constitution and other laws, gross misconduct, and abuse of office.