Majority of the Senators voted against the seven charges leveled against her by the county assembly as grounds for impeachment.
The Senators voted to throw out all seven charges fronted against the governor by the Meru County Assembly.
In charge one on misappropriation and misuse of public resources, 28 senators voted that the governor was innocent while 19 senators voted to say she was guilty.
On nepotism and unethical practices, 42 senators voted to save the governor while five senators supported it.
On charge three, bullying, vilification, and demeaning of other leaders, 44 Senators dismissed the charge while three approved it.
On charge four of illegal appointment and usurpation of statutory powers, 26 senators voted against it while 20 voted in support. One Senator did not vote.
On Charge Five, Contempt of Court, 44 senators vindicated the governor while three senators backed the assembly on the accusation.
On charge six the governor named a road after her husband, 43 senators dismissed the charges while four senators found the governor guilty.
On charge seven, contempt of the assembly, 36 senators unanimously voted that the governor was innocent while 10 voted to support the Assembly claim.
“The result of the division indicate that the Senate has not upheld any of the impeachment charges… The Senate has failed to remove from office by impeachment Governor Kawira Mwangaza and the Governor accordingly continues to hold office,” ruled Speaker Amason Kingi after the vote by the Senators.
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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 inturn 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,” Kawira 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 own weaknesses. It is my prayer to God that the weaknesses they may have, God will help me so as that we work together as a team and make Meru people happy.” Kawira added.
Voting was done by delegation meaning only 47 senators representing all counties cast their votes. The hearing of Governor Mwangaza’s impeachment case lasted two days,it began on Tuesday when the Meru County Assembly presented their case.
On Wednesday, the Governor’s and her lawyer put her defense against the impeachment charges.The two days saw emotions run high as Mwangaza fought to defend herself against impeachment charges.
The Senate conducted a hearing session for her impeachment trial.The governor was impeached after 59 MCAs voted in favor of the impeachment motion.The House deliberated on the evidence produced by the Meru County Assembly legal team and Mwangaza’s defense among other issues.
This is the second impeachment she has survived after the first one was thrown out by the same Senate Assembly last year.
