Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s turbulent tenure came to an abrupt end on Wednesday after the Senate upheld her impeachment, marking the third time in recent history that a Kenyan governor has been removed from office.

Governor Mwangaza, who had previously survived two impeachment attempts, was voted out by a significant majority of senators, with the decision coming after a lengthy hearing that stretched late into the night. The Senate found her guilty on three charges: gross violation of the Constitution, gross misconduct, and abuse of office.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi delivered the final ruling just after midnight, stating that Mwangaza would no longer serve as Meru’s governor. This decision places her alongside former governors Ferdinand Waititu of Kiambu and Mike Sonko of Nairobi, both of whom were impeached in 2020.

The charges against Mwangaza were severe. The first, gross violation of the Constitution, was supported by 26 senators, while 4 opposed and 14 abstained. This charge stemmed, in part, from her unlawful decision to revoke the appointment of Virginia Kawira Miriti as Secretary/CEO of the Meru County Public Service Board without the required majority vote from the County Assembly.

On the second charge of gross misconduct, the Senate again found Mwangaza guilty, with 26 senators in favor, 4 against, and 14 abstentions. Among the accusations was her misleading claim that Ksh86 million had been raised through a Paybill number after the murder of Daniel Muthiani, when the actual figure was a mere Ksh286,516.

The third and final charge, abuse of office, saw 27 senators voting for impeachment, with just one senator opposed and 14 abstaining. This charge involved the irregular payment of emergency call allowances to 161 doctors and medical officers, resulting in an overpayment of Ksh74.34 million, a violation of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.

Throughout the two-day hearing, both sides presented their cases vigorously. Governor Mwangaza’s defense highlighted her efforts to reconcile with local leaders, including members of the Meru County Assembly, in an attempt to resolve the ongoing conflicts. She recounted traveling across the county, apologizing to those she may have wronged, and seeking to mend fences with various stakeholders.

Despite these efforts, the Senate ultimately decided that the charges against her were too serious to ignore, leading to her removal from office.