Silverio Omari
The High Court in Meru has directed that the impeachment motion against Governor Kawira Mwangaza be referred to the Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders. Justice Linus Kassan announced that instead of issuing a ruling on Monday regarding the fourth impeachment proceeding against Mwangaza, the court will now deliver its decision on August 20, 2024.
This extension allows for Alternative Dispute Resolution, as President William Ruto had advised the Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and the Governor to pursue.
Justice Kassan instructed the Njuri Ncheke Supreme Council of Ameru Elders to submit their resolution, or lack thereof, on the dispute by August 19, 2024, three weeks from today. He also ordered the MCAs and the governor to appear before the Njuri Ncheke with their legal representatives by Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
Mwangaza had sought a court order on Wednesday to halt the MCAs from proceeding with the impeachment motion, claiming it was driven by malice and a political witch hunt. She alleged that her detractors had forged signatures of MCAs who supported her to meet the required threshold for the motion. Her lawyer, Elias Mutuma, stated that some pieces of evidence in the case were still pending in court.
Previously, the Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders had supported Mwangaza’s impeachment. In October 2023, following the support of 57 out of 69 MCAs for her impeachment, Njuri Ncheke Secretary General Josphat Murangiri criticized Mwangaza for acting independently and exacerbating divisions within Meru County. He stated that the elders would not support anyone who undermines the unity of the Meru people and their neighbors and endorsed Deputy Governor Isaac Mutuma as a potential successor should Mwangaza lose her seat.
