Nairobi — Beleagured Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza today took the stand to testify in her impeachment motion as a witness to defeat the intent by the Meru County Assembly to remove her from office.
Mwangaza attributed the quest for impeachment to external forces disclosing that influential political leaders at the national and county levels orchestrated her removal bid.
Ever since senators saved her from the first impeachment onslaught in December last year, she averred that the relationship between her and MCAs have been amicable.
"We agreed that the past was over we start working together for the people of Meru. It is a slogan for the speed of development in Meru. Kabati means accelerating to highest speed possible and nonstop. MCAs have embraced the same slogan and also use it," said Mwangaza.
In the day long proceedings, Mwangaza claimed she is a victim of evil machinations revealing that Meru Senator and Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi had issued threats that he will withdraw the support of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) members from the support of development.
Mwangaza was elected as an independent candidate in the 2022 general election.
"There is pressure from MPs, leaders of political parties and the Deputy Speaker. They are misleading our MCAs."
In addition, the embattled senator disclosed that a section of Meru leaders used demeaning words against her, saying that she should get pregnant within nine months.
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Mwangaza who broke down to tears while narrating the evidence said the Meru leaders insisted that if she failed to get pregnant, they will use a tool known in Meru as 'Kibiri' to stir her until she gets pregnant.
"In the video, the MP is saying that he has given me nine months to get pregnant and if that is not done, he will use the stick. The MPs and Deputy Speaker of this House have been holding rallies all over the weekend. They even say that I defeated Men and they will use that stick. This purely politics," she said.
The besieged Governor blamed ethnic politics to her woes saying the local leaders had accused her of not hailing from Meru community but the Kikuyu ethnic hence she should not rule in Meru.
"They say that Mwangaza is a Kikuyu and they don't want to be ruled by a Kikuyu from. Pressure has been asserted on charges that do not hold any water. By the same leaders. They had no option apart from an impeachment motion where they were forced to sign," Mwangaza said.
The Meru Governor defended the accusations against her on misappropriation of funds saying that she initiated a program dubbed 'Okolea' that seeks to support the electorate through development projects.
She noted that she has never used any public funds in the program explaining that evenbefore they were elected into office with her deputy Isaac Mutuma she was already assisting the electorate in various projects.
"I have been doing the 'Okolea' and this gave me favour before God. My Deputy Governor who was just a prison warder, is the same person de-campaigning and demeaning the same program God gave us before men and women," said Kawira.
