Meru County Governor, Hon. Kawira Mwangaza has refuted all charges brought against her by the Meru County Assembly.

During the first day of Senate hearings regarding her proposed removal from office through impeachment, Governor Mwangaza dismissed the three charges presented to her during the morning session. The charges include gross violation of the Constitution and other laws, gross misconduct, and abuse of office.

In the first charge, Governor Mwangaza is accused of grossly violating among others Articles 10(2), 27,41,47,73,232,235,236 and 251 of the Constitution. She is accused of violating the Public Officer Ethics Act,2003, Leadership and Integrity Act,2012, the County Government Act,2012, the Public Appointments (County Assemblies Approval) Act, the Fair Administration Action Act, the Meru County Investment and Development Corporation Act, the Meru County Revenue Board Act.

The County Assembly accuses Governor Kawira of illegally revoking the appointment of CPA Virginia Kawira Miriti as Secretary/CEO of the Meru County Public Service Board, without a vote of not less than 75% of all the members of the County Assembly and in usurpation of the powers of the County Assembly contrary to sections 58(4) & (5) and 59A of the County Governments Act.

In addition she is blamed for failing to appoint the Chairpersons of the Meru County Revenue Board, Meru Microfinance Corporation, Meru Youth Service Board, and Meru County Investment and Development Corporation Board as required by law thus failing to operationalize the said Boards, and/or illegally appointing the said Chairpersons without vetting and approval by the County Assembly contrary to section 4 of the Public Appointments (County Assemblies Approval) Act.

Furthermore, the Assembly has accused the Meru Governor of Illegally dismissing Dr Ntoiti (CEO of County Revenue Board), Paul Mwaki (CEO of Liquor Board), Kenneth Kimathi Mbae (Managing Director of Meru Microfinance Corporation) and Joseph Kithure Mberia (CEO, MEWASS).

In the second charge, Governor Kawira is accused of deliberately and knowingly misleading the public by giving false information that Kshs. 86,000,000.00 had been raised through the Paybill number 247247 Account Number 0400163917899 established after the murder of Daniel Muthiani alias Sniper while the correct position is that only Kshs. 286,516.00 was raised thus violating the moral and ethical requirements expected of State Officers.

In the third charge the Meru County Assembly is accusing Governor Kawira of irregular payment of emergency call allowances to 161 doctors and medical officers using the wrong rates leading to excessive payment of Kshs. 74,340,000 and sse of manual payroll to pay personnel emoluments amounting to Kshs. 102.94 million (3.1% of Personnel Emoluments costs).

The Members of the County Assembly are pointing fingers at the Governor for employing a bloated workforce, of at least 111 personal staff in the office of the Governor, thus contributing to an increase in the wage bill by more than Kshs. 500 million and an excessive wage Bill that is 49% of the annual revenue allocation far beyond the 35% limit set.

She is further accused of paying Kiambi Christus Manyara, a Public Communication Officer in the office of the Governor his full salary and benefits while in remand and despite being accused of murder contrary to section 4.2 of the Public Service Commission Discipline Manual for the Public Service.

As per the Order Paper the County Assembly and the Governor will each give their opening Statements this Tuesday then pave way for submission of evidence by the County Assembly that will include evidence of witnesses, if any, cross-examination and re-examination with the Senators getting an opportunity to ask questions for clarification.