The Meru County Assembly has withdrawn its fourth impeachment motion against Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
This development comes a day after the High Court of Meru directed that the ouster motion be transferred to the Njuri Ncheke council of elders for resolution.
The court’s ruling, issued on July 29, 2024, mandated that Governor Mwangaza, the Meru County MCAs, and their respective lawyers appear before the council of elders on July 31, 2024.
However, the elders have since rejected their involvement, asserting that they lack the authority to handle constitutional matters of this nature.
Led by Njuri Ncheke Secretary General Josphat Murangiri, the elders denied claims of representation and expressed their intention to pursue legal action against any misrepresentation.
The motion, initially tabled by Deputy Majority Leader Zipporah Kinya on July 17, 2024, accused Governor Mwangaza of gross constitutional and legal violations, leading to national embarrassment.
Kinya criticized the court’s decision to transfer the case to the elders, calling it a “mockery” and questioning the integrity of the judiciary for relying on purportedly fraudulent petitions.
“I withdraw this motion because this county is run through force hold, drama, and fake monkey business,” Kinya declared.
Her sentiment was echoed by several MCAs who criticized Justice Phogon Kassan for what they described as judicial incompetence, demanding his removal from the bench.
Governor Mwangaza, represented by lawyer Elias Mutuma, had previously sought a court order to restrain the assembly from debating the impeachment motion, arguing that it was driven by political malice.
Last week, Justice Kassan had issued an interim order suspending the debate, a decision which President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) supported by calling for the cessation of the impeachment efforts.
