Meru’s newly sworn-in Governor, Isaac Mutuma, has encountered his first major challenge just minutes after taking the oath of office.
On Monday, March 17, an activist filed a lawsuit against him, questioning the legality of his assumption of office.
Mutuma, who previously served as Deputy Governor since 2022, officially took over from Kawira Mwangaza after she was impeached by the Senate in 2024. Her removal from office was later upheld by the High Court on March 14.
However, even before settling into his new role, a legal battle emerged. Activist Mike Makarina moved to court, arguing that Mutuma’s swearing-in did not follow the required constitutional timeline.
According to Makarina’s petition, the new governor should have been sworn in at least 10 days after the position officially became vacant.
This means the earliest possible date for his assumption of office should have been Monday, March 27—the first Thursday following the 10-day period after the High Court’s ruling.
The lawsuit has sparked fresh debate over whether Mutuma’s swearing-in was legally valid under the Constitution. Some legal experts believe that the rushed ceremony may have violated the Assumption to Office of Governor Act of 2017.
This law specifies that a governor-elect should be sworn in on the first Thursday after the tenth day following the announcement of the final election results by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
While this provision is typically used in the case of newly elected governors, questions remain about how it applies to governors assuming office due to impeachment.
Meanwhile, Kawira Mwangaza’s political future remains uncertain. Despite her removal, she still has the option of appealing the High Court’s decision.
However, the situation has been complicated by Mutuma’s swearing-in. If she decides to challenge her impeachment in the Court of Appeal, she may not be able to secure temporary reinstatement while the case is ongoing since Mutuma has already taken over as the county boss.
Mwangaza’s impeachment was a major political setback, as 26 Senators voted in favor of her removal, citing gross misconduct and violations of the Constitution. Only four Senators supported her, while 14 abstained from voting.
Notably, this was Mwangaza’s third impeachment attempt in just two years. Critics have accused her of failing to unite the people of Meru, leading to deep divisions and political instability in the county.
As the legal battle unfolds, Meru residents are left wondering how the county’s leadership crisis will be resolved.
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