Embattled Meru Governor Mwangaza may after all survive an ongoing impeachment process at the Senate.
This is after powerful forces including the State House made a political decision to “save” her.
Sources aware of the developments said president William Ruto has intervened and persuaded the Senate leadership to make all possible to help the governor.
This decision was made on December 20, 2022, at a meeting where the president is understood to have said he doesn’t want to be seen to be fighting women.
Out of this, all is likely she will survive, our sources said.
This led to a meeting between Kawira and Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi at his office hours later.
Linturi has defended his association with embattled Kawira saying he will continue working with all elected leaders across the country despite their political affiliations as he discharges his duties as a Cabinet Secretary.
Speaking on Wednesday at Chuka University’s Kiegoi Campus Grounds, Igembe South Constituency in Meru County while leading the National Tree Growing and Land Restoration Campaign, Linturi told off those criticizing him for associating himself with the embattled Governor.
“My ministry will work closely with all Governors despite their political affiliations as we strive to improve food production and promote food security in the country,” stated Linturi.
He on Tuesday hosted Kawira his former adversary at his office in Kilimo House, Nairobi, but he has now described the meeting as an official engagement that was focused on agricultural issues.
“Yes I met Mwangaza in Nairobi and I have seen some people talking ill about it. I’m a Cabinet Secretary and I will continue with my work. During our meeting we agreed on issues like desert locust invasions among other critical topics,” he added.
Kawira ignited a political storm in Meru on Tuesday when she posted her picture with Linturi on her social media pages with a short caption “Meru Must Be Happy”.
The Governor won the gubernatorial seat in the last general election as an independent candidate.
The Senate has already resolved to constitute an 11-member committee to probe the grounds for the impeachment of Mwangaza.
“The senate resolves to establish a special committee comprising of 11 Senators to investigate the proposed removal from office of the Governor of Meru county and report to the senate within 10 days,” Speaker Amason Kingi said during the Senate’s Tuesday special sitting.
Linturi later headed to Nguthiru Laingi Grounds in Tigania West Constituency and Gatimbi Chief’s grounds in Central Imenti Constituency for the tree planting exercise.
He was accompanied by Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Principal Secretary, Gitonga Mugambi, his Cooperatives counterpart Patrick Kiburi, Meru County Commissioner Frederick Ndunga, Meru Deputy Governor, Mutuma M’ethingia, MPs John Paul Mwirigi, Dan Kiili, Titus Taitumu, John Mutunga among others.
The tree planting campaign which was launched by President Ruto on Wednesday in Kajiado County is part of the government’s ambitious program aimed at managing, conserving and expanding forests sustainably towards attaining a minimum of 30 percent forest cover nationally by 2032.
