Justice Bahati Mwamuye sitting at the Milimani law Courts said Kawira has satisfied the court that the case will be rendered useless if the interim orders are not confirmed.

Mwamuye in confirming and extending the ex parte orders he had issued on 21 August this year said the orders will be in place for a period of 120 days.

“The respondent’s notice of motion is dismissed, ex-party orders are confirmed and extended for a period of 120 days and at that time she will continue to serve as the Governor.”

“…in that time, the petitioner will continue to serve as governor with a provision that the judgment in this case may be rendered before lapse of the 120 days,” he said.

The court further noted that public interest warrants the extension of the orders, adding that there’s if the orders are not extended then the petition will be rendered nugatory if Mwangaza wins the case.

The court was told that Mwangaza would suffer prejudice and that the petition would be an academic exercise.

This means that the case will be heard fully. The matter will be mentioned on December 20.

Mwangaza unsuccessfully faced her third impeachment on August 21 after a contentious late-night voting session at the Senate confirmed all three charges against the embattled Governor.

On the first charge of gross violation of the Constitution and other laws, the Senate found Kawira guilty, with 26 Senators voting to confirm the charge, 4 voting against it, and 14 abstaining.

The Senate had asked the court to set aside the orders saying it has far-reaching implications that encroach on their mandate.

They also faulted Kawira for suing the wrong party saying she ought to have sued the Senate and not the speaker.

The speaker they said has no vote in matter of the house.

But the Judge in confirming the orders said some of the issues raised will be dealt with during the main hearing of the matter.

“Not confirming the orders would mean there will be a succession in the officer of Meru Governor. Those changes will not be easy to undo if Kawira’s petition succeeds,” the Judge said.

The judge said that prudent use of scarce resources is more relevant in such a case as gubernatorial succession in the county would trigger events and changes that would be funded from the public coffers.

“Public interest in this case favors the continuation and subsistence of the orders issued in August pending determination of the case,” said the Judge.

The post Court Confirms Orders Blocking Ouster of Meru Governor Kawira  appeared first on KahawaTungu.

Justice Bahati Mwamuye at the same time restrained Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi from publishing in the Kenya gazette notice a declaration of a vacancy in the office of the Governor of Meru County.

Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the Application dated 21/08/2024, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued staying the furtherance or the implementation of the Resolution of the Senate removing the Governor of Meru County, Hon. Kawira Mwangaza, from Office by way of impeachment.

“Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the Application dated 21/08/2024, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued restraining the Speaker of the Senate, or any other person or authority, from publishing or causing to be published in the Kenya Gazette a notification or declaration of a vacancy in the Office of the Governor of Meru County.”

“The Petitioner/Applicant shall serve the Application and the Petition on the Respondent immediately and file an Affidavit of Service in that regard,” the judge said.

The matter shall be mentioned on September 17 to confirm compliance and to take a priority date for highlighting of written submissions.

This came hours after the Senate impeached her.

In a contentious late-night voting session at the Senate, Senators—primarily from the Kenya Kwanza coalition—voted to confirm all three charges against the embattled Governor.

Despite her hopes of surviving a third impeachment motion at the Senate, this time, Kawira fell short as the government rallied enough support to remove her from office.

The lawmakers, by a majority voted, upheld all the three charges levelled against the county boss.

“The senate has resolved to remove from office by impeachment, the governor of Meru county Kawira Mwangaza and the governor accordingly, ceases to hold the office,” speaker Amason Kingi said.

Some 26 elected senators (delegation) voted to uphold the first charge on gross violation of the constitution and other laws.

Some 14 senators abstained while four voted in her favour.

In charge two, some 26 lawmakers found the governor guilty of abuse of office.

Fourteen senators abstained while two voted against the motion.

This was the third time Mwangaza faced senators following removal by MCAs in under two years.

On the abuse of office charge, 27 senators upheld the charge, one voted against it while 14 abstained.

The Senate session was marked by high tension, with Senators emerging from a closed-door session visibly charged, engaging in heated exchanges and shouting matches over points of order.

Majority Whip Bonnie Khalwale, one of the few who did not vote for the Governor’s removal, challenged the Speaker to address certain procedural issues before proceeding with the vote, evoking historical parliamentary figures like Martin Shikuku, Jean Marie Seroney, Chelagat Mutai, and JM Kariuki to emphasize his point.

“I am reflecting on the history of Parliament. If Martin Shikuku were alive, Jean Marie Seroney, Chelagat Mutai, JM Kariuki—they would have wanted the Speaker to settle the important issue of matters in this case that are actively before the courts because they are sub judice,” Khalwale argued.

The post High Court Suspends Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s Impeachment  appeared first on KahawaTungu.

Police said Murega Baichu was summoned and grilled for hours at Meru DCI office as part of an ongoing probe into the murder.

He was accompanied by lawyers when he appeared before a team probing the incident which has sparked protests in the area.

Details on what he was asked were scanty but sources said this is part of the ongoing probe which has so far seen eight suspects being detained.

A team from Nairobi, Meru and Embu is investigating the murder. Baichu was in October 2022 appointed the Hustler Ambassador, a move that left ward representatives raising concerns and accusing the governor of abuse of office.

Read: Police Seek 14 More Days to Hold Five Suspects in Meru Blogger Murder Probe 

The investigating team plans to summon Mwangaza to Nairobi in the coming days for grilling sessions.

Mwangaza has denied knowledge of the murder most brutal. Police have so far established even though Sniper may have visited her official residence in Milimani, Meru, she was not present then.

The prosecution on Friday January 12 asked a Kiambu High Court for a continued detention of the five suspects in connection with the murder for a further 14 days to allow the police to conclude their investigations.

The prosecution wants Kenneth Mutua Matiri, Fredrick Muruiki Kiugi, Frankline Kimathi, Timothy Kinoti and Murangiri Kenneth Guantai be detained as police continue their investigation into the criminal offence of murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code following the brutal murder Sniper, aged 33, on December 16, 2023.

The prosecution, through Evelyn Onunga, argued that releasing the suspects at this point would compromise the integrity of the ongoing investigations and interfere with witnesses.

Read Also: Two More Suspects Arrested Over Murder Of Meru Blogger Muthiani

In her application, she urged the court to balance the right to liberty of the suspects against the interest of justice, peace, and security in the circumstances of the case.

The suspects were arrested in Meru town by detectives from the Homicide Investigation Department at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on January 4, 2024 and booked at various police stations within Nairobi and Kiambu.

The ruling will be delivered on Monday, January 15, 2024.

The five are separate from another three suspects who are being detained over the murder.

Kibera Senior Resident Magistrate William Lopokoit Monday January 8 allowed the police to continue holding three more suspects associated with the murder for 21 days pending investigations.

The prosecution, led by Joseph Mburugu and assisted by Juddie Kitilit and Maureen Tanui convinced the court that the three suspects could interfere with investigations and needed to be in custody.

Read Also: DCI Detectives Seal Off, Search Kawira Mwangaza’s Meru Residence

The court directed Boniface Githinji, Brian Mwenda, and Grace Kathambi be held at Gigiri police station or any other station pending investigation.

The matter shall be mentioned on January 29, 2024. Mwenda, is a bodaboda rider in Meru. He was arrested on the outskirts of Gachanka village, Ntima East division in North Imenti.

Detectives from the DCI Headquarters Homicide Department raided the home of the rider in the probe before walking out with him.

They took more than four hours at the suspect’s rented home collecting forensic evidence to aid in Sniper’s murder probe.

The arrests came just a day after police from DCI on Saturday January 6 stormed and pitched tent at the home of Governor Mwangaza in Milimani estate, cordoning it off for the better part of the day.

They are also reviewing CCTV footage at the home and near there.

Homicide detectives declared the governor’s residence a crime scene as preliminary investigations reveal the killing was planned and executed by her close associates.

The detectives had earlier arrested five suspect among them Mwangaza’s brother and bodyguard Kenneth Murangiri Guantai, Director of Protocol in her government Kenneth Mutuma Matiri alias Kasigi, Fredrick Muriuki Kiugu, Frankline Kimathi and Timothy Kinoti.

Circumstantial evidence has linked the governor’s office to the murder.

But the officials say they are yet to know if she knew the incident was taking place. She was not present then, the officials say.

A call data analysis of the suspects also established a pattern of communication before the killing of the blogger.

Read Also: DCI Seeks More Time to Hold Five Suspects in Meru Blogger Sniper’s Murder Probe

The probe seeks to, among other things, establish the mastermind of the plan to eliminate Sniper and how the killers were procured.

Under section 20 of the Penal Code, a principal offender includes the one who committed the actual act, one who abets or aids or omits to do something for purposes of aiding or abetting the commission of an offense.

Sniper disappeared on December 2, 2023 before his body was recovered from a thicket on the banks of River Mutonga in Tharaka Nithi county on December 16.

The Chief Government pathologist Johansen Oduor who conducted the postmortem on December 22 said the deceased was tortured before being strangled. He also had fractured ribs.

Sniper had, in his social media posts, recorded videos criticizing the governor and according to the DCI, the suspects had told him that the governor wanted them to work together.

In the application, the DCI said another suspect who is also in custody named Vincent Murithi alias Supuu lured the deceased through a phone call that the county boss wanted to meet him for a truce before he travels from his home at Kabuitu in Igembe South.

According to investigators, the deceased was lured by the five suspects through a phone call alleging that Governor Mwangaza wanted to meet him. She was however not in the office and reports say she did not meet him.

The post Governor Mwangaza’s Husband Grilled Over Murder of Meru Blogger Sniper appeared first on KahawaTungu.

“There are many organisations collecting signatures to dissolve the Meru County. As the governor, I think they should do what is good, if that (dissolution) is how citizens will get help, I will support them,” Mwangaza said.

The governor who survived impeachment for a second time last week, said she has served the people of Meru with diligence despite the backlash.

“There is no governor who has been impeached three times in a year. And despite the suffering, I have worked and ensured the absorption of the budget to the tune of 72%. It was hard because of the challenges. If God and the people see it fit, they will re-elect me,” she added.

A local, Henry Muriithi has petitioned President William Ruto to dissolve the County government because it is “irretrievably broken and completely dysfunctional.”

“The stalemate has resulted in the objectives of devolution not being met as is foreseen under Article 174 of the Constitution. If the objectives of devolution are not being achieved in the county government of Meru, the people submit that the county ought to be dissolved at the earliest opportunity,” Muriithi says in his petition.

Another resident Michael Kibutha wants the Senate decision set aside.

Mr Kibutha wants the court to find that Governor Mwangaza was procedurally impeached for gross violation of the Constitution.

The former Woman Rep was being accused of misappropriation and misuse of County resources, nepotism and related unethical practices, bullying, vilification and diminishing other leaders, Illegal appointments and usurpation of statutory powers, contempt of court, illegally naming a public road after her husband and contempt of the Assembly.

The post Governor Mwangaza Welcomes Dissolution of Meru County appeared first on KahawaTungu.

In the video, the legislator verbally attacked the county boss for not siring children with her current husband, Murega Baichu.

The lawmaker is heard addressing a crowd while rubbing a stick between his palms as he spoke in the Meru vernacular language.

Read: Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza Survives Impeachment, Again

Mwangaza translated Mpuru’s statements to: “He is saying he has given me 9 months to be pregnant and if that is not done. He will do it via what he is holding.”

But according to the lawmaker, Mwangaza edited the video to fit her needs.

Mpuru has also threatened to record a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Read Also: Governor Mwangaza in Tears As She Explains MP Aburi’s Utterances

He also noted that he has a lot of respect for the female gender and would never demean them in any way.

“Nataka apology kutoka kwa Governor wetu wa Meru County kwamba aliambia Wakenya uwongo. Niko tayari kuenda kuandika statement, alete video, mimi niko na video yangu ya maneno niliongea…ile yao ilikuwa imekatwakatwa kuonyesha ya kwamba Mpuru amekuwa akivuruga kina Mama,” he said.

The post MP Mpuru Demands Apology from Governor Mwangaza Over Video Played in Senate appeared first on KahawaTungu.

This is after a majority of the 47 Senators failed to uphold any of the seven charges cited against her by by the County Assembly that voted to remove her.

Mwangaza was accused of misappropriating county resources, nepotism and unethical practices, bullying and vilifying other leaders, usurping her statutory powers, contempt of court, illegally naming a public road after her husband and contempt of the Meru County Assembly.

After a two-day-long hearing of the impeachment case against her, the 47 Senators took the crucial vote at around midnight on Wednesday, voting on each of the seven counts levelled against Governor Mwangaza.

On the first count of misappropriation of county resources, 19 Senators voted to have her removed from office while 28 voted in her favour.

For the second count of nepotism and unethical practices, five Senators found her guilty while 42 were not satisfied by the accusation as grounds for her removal.

Three Senators found her guilty on the the count of bullying, vilification and diminishing other leaders with 44 finding her innocent.

The lawmakers were almost equally divided on the charge of making illegal appointments and usurpation of statutory powers. Twenty senators found her guilty on this charge, with 27 upholding her innocence.

On the charge of Contempt of Court, only three Senators found her guilty while 44 voted in her favour.

On the outrageous count of illegally naming a public road after her husband, four Senators found the charge as a substantial ground for her removal while 43 rejected the charge.

Only 10 Senators found her guilty of Contempt of the County Assembly with 27 finding the ground as unsubstantiated.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi ruled; “The result of the division indicates that the Senate has not upheld any of the impeachment charges. Pursuant to Article 181 of the Constitution, Section 33 (8) of the County Government Act and Standing Order 87 of the Senate Standing Orders, the Senate has failed to remove from office by impeachment Governor Kawira Mwangaza and the Governor accordingly continues to hold office.”

If a majority of all members of the Senate had voted to uphold any of the impeachment charges, the governor would have ceased to hold office, in line with Section 33(7) of the County Government Act.

This comes as the second time the Governor is surviving removal by Meru County MCAs with whom she has been at loggerheads since assuming office.

She was first impeached by the Assembly in December 2022 but an 11-member Senate Special Committee appointed to probe the grounds for her removal said none of the charges levelled against her was proven.

On Wednesday night, before the Senate once again granted her a political lifeline, the Governor had pleaded with the House for forgiveness and a second chance.

Making her final submissions before the legislators cast their votes on her fate, a low-spirited Mwangaza regretted her conduct towards the Members of the County Assembly, MPs and Senators in turn asking them for forgiveness.

“I pray to God to give me more energy and grace…na Mungu anipe kuvumilia kwingi to see the people of Meru happy. The Members of Parliament, our dear Deputy Senator of this House, the MCAs, Deputy Speaker…if I have wronged anyone of you, forgive me,” Mwangaza said.

“I was elected as an independent governor, I know I need MCAs. I have tried my best and still continue to try my best to see that I work with everyone. No one is an angel, I am not an angel each and every one of us has our his or her own weaknesses. It is my prayer to God that the weaknesses that they may have, God will help me so that as we work together as a team and make Meru people happy.”

The post Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza Survives Impeachment, Again appeared first on KahawaTungu.

The county boss shed tears during cross-examination by her lawyer Elias Mutuma on some utterances made against her by politicians believed to be behind her second impeachment attempt.

In one of the clips played before the senate  Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi verbally attacks Mwangaza for not siring children with her current husband.

In the video, the MP is seen rubbing a stick between his palms as he addresses the crowd in his vernacular language.

Read: Senate Warns Moses Kuria Against Commenting on Mwangaza’s Impeachment Trial

“He is saying he has given me 9 months to be pregnant and if that is not done. He will do it via what he is holding,” Kawira said as she burst into tears.

In another clip, her deputy Isaac Mutuma is heard trashing her outreach program dubbed Okolea.

Mutuma tells Igembe South constituents to reject the initiative referring to it as a poverty program.

“Honorable Speaker for the last 12 years, I have been doing Okolea and this gave me favour before God. And my deputy who was just a prison askari… God gave us favour because of this program. And out of this program that raised him from an askari to deputy DG of Meru is the same person is seen on video demeaning the same program that God used to give us favour before Men and Women,” said Mwangaza who is facing seven charges.

Read Also: Meru Governor Mwangaza Pleads Not Guilty To Seven Charges

MP Aburi features in yet another clip in which he claims Mwangaza is not a Meru hence should not be the county chief.

“He is saying the father of Kawira Mwangaza is called Njuguna and the mother Mugure and they don’t want to be ruled by a Kikuyu in Meru and that is why they want to change to Peter Munya the first Governor,” she submitted.

The post Governor Mwangaza in Tears As She Explains MP Aburi’s Utterances appeared first on KahawaTungu.

Justices Jamila Mohamed, Luka Kimaru and Aggrey Muchelule on Friday ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to consider the embattled county chief’s petition.

The bench noted that it cannot, in the first instance, intervene in the impeachment of the applicant due to the strict timelines provided by the law.

“This Court lacks jurisdiction in the first instance to consider the merits of the applicant’s application which sought Conservatory Orders before the impeachment process has run its constitutional and legal course,” court documents read.

Read: Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza Unanimously Impeached

The judges noted that should Kawira be impeached, she will have an opportunity to present her case before the senate.

“Even after the Senate makes its decision, the applicant still has the avenue of petitioning the Court for appropriate relief, if the decisions were to go against her. We are, therefore, of the considered view that the applicant’s right to be heard will not be circumscribed,” the three-judge bench ruled.

The former Woman Rep was on Wednesday unanimously impeached.

All 59 MCAs present in the House on voted in support of the motion to remove her from office while 10 others were absent.

Kawira was impeached over alleged misuse of public funds, gross misconduct, and contempt of the county assembly and court among other charges.

The post Appellate Court Dismisses Petition Seeking to Block Governor Kawira’s Impeachment appeared first on KahawaTungu.

Mwangaza claimed to have been apprehended as she donated a cow to a resident, an allegation the police denied.

“Contrary to the false allegations circulating on the social media, the National Police Service wishes to clarify, that Police have not arrested Meru Governor, Hon. Kawira Mwangaza,” said the police.

FALSE ALLEGATION ON ARREST OF MERU GORVERNOR, HON. KAWIRA MWANGAZA

Contrary to the false allegations circulating on the social media, the National Police Service wishes to clarify, that Police have not arrested Meru Governor, Hon. Kawira Mwangaza. pic.twitter.com/dwT9fHtkyZ

— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) October 18, 2023

In a statement Thursday, her colleagues want Koome to apologize for the embarrassment, inconvenience, public humiliation and ridicule their colleague was subjected to.

They also want disciplinary action taken against the officers involved in the arrest.

“We urge the police to refrain from being used to settle political scores and rely on facts and objectivity in the execution of their duties,” said CoG vice chair Ahmed Abdullahi.

Abdullahi also laughed off the case of mistaken identity as presented by the police. He said governors are well known people.

Read: Governor Kawira Mwangaza Fakes Arrest At Banned Okolea Meeting

“The action is a flagrant disregard for the Governor’s rights as enshrined in Article 29 of the Constitution. We strongly condemn such bullying and intimidation and reiterate that the governor’s office must be respected,” he added.

Witnesses said the county boss faked the arrest as soon as the police arrived.

She was holding an “Okolea Program” meeting even after Interior CS Kithure Kindiki banned her from holding them in the future.

The post Governors Want IG Koome To Apologize to Kawira Mwangaza Over Alleged Arrest appeared first on KahawaTungu.

Reports indicate that the county boss was holding an Okolea Initiative meeting on Wednesday when police arrived.

She was in the middle of donating a cow in Ruiga, Imenti Central.

It is said that Mwangaza forced herself into the police vehicle but the officers refused to start the engine.

Last month, chaos rocked parts of Meru town during an ‘Okolea Program’ function at Makiri, Igembe South Constituency.

Angry residents protested by slaughtering one cow and mattresses that Mwangaza had come to donate to the public.

The protests follow escalating war and division between the Governor and her Deputy Isaac Mutuma.

Mwangaza blamed Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi for the chaos that rocked her event.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki waged into the war saying he will take action against those behind it.

Read Also: Ten Arrested as Meru Deputy Governor Mutuma is Questioned Over Weekend Chaos

He said the chaos pitting criminals supporting the Governor and her deputy must stop forthwith.

“Security agencies have commenced the hunt for the criminals and will round them up, arrest and prosecute every one of them,” he said.

“Investigations will also ensue on the planners, abettors and financiers of the violence witnessed in the Igembe region of the County.”

He said citizens, including political leaders of all ranks and all political parties/ formations, must carry out their activities lawfully and peacefully without exception. “No violence whatsoever will be tolerated as it undermines national security, the rule of law and makes our Country look backward.”

The post Governor Kawira Mwangaza Fakes Arrest At Banned Okolea Meeting appeared first on KahawaTungu.