Senators Push Court to Reinstate Impeachment of Meru Governor Mwangaza

The Senate has taken a firm stance, pressing for the court to lift a High Court order that had put a stop to the impeachment of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza. The situation is growing ever more complex as the Senate insists that Mwangaza’s legal action was misdirected, targeting Senate Speaker Amason Kingi instead of addressing the body and lawmakers who were responsible for her impeachment.

The heart of the Senate's argument lies in the claim that the court, by issuing such an order, is infringing upon the Senate's constitutional authority. They've termed her petition as 'incurably defective,' pointing out that it failed to include the Senate itself. Moreover, they assert that the order was issued without giving the Senate an opportunity to be heard, which they view as a breach of natural justice.

On the other side, Mwangaza's legal team has been arguing that the impeachment process had fundamental issues. They contend that it was carried out on a day not designated for official Senate business, violating necessary legal procedures. Furthermore, they accuse the process of creating a situation of double jeopardy, prohibited under constitutional guidelines.

The intrigue doesn't stop there. The Senate has also shown resistance to the intervention of the Council of Governors (CoG) and FIDA Kenya, worried that their involvement would prolong the proceedings. Tensions in the courtroom were further heightened when a local voter, Moses Kimson, was taken into custody for his disruptive behavior, which included vocal criticism of Mwangaza's administration.

Justice Bahati Mwamuye has made it clear that the Senate's application will be considered alongside other requests from the parties involved. This situation emerges against the backdrop of considerable political pressure Mwangaza has faced, which includes surviving two previous impeachment attempts and ongoing dissent from Meru’s local political figures.