Following a ruling by the High Court in Nairobi, which upheld the impeachment of Kawira Mwangaza in 2024, plans are in place to install a new Meru County Governor.
In a gazette notice of Friday, March 14, 2025, by the Chairperson of the Assumption of the Office of Governor Committee, Marti Gitije, Meru County’s deputy governor, Isaac Mutuma M’Ethingia, is set to be sworn in as the new county boss on Monday, March 17, 2025, at the Mwendantu Grounds.
“Pursuant to Articles 181, 182 (1) (e), and 182 (2) of the Constitution of Kenya, sections 32B and 33 (7) of the County Governments Act, sections 5, 6, 11 (1), 12 (1), and 16 (1) (a) of the Assumption of the Office of Governor Act, and further to Gazette Notice No. 10351 dated the 20th August 2024, and in accordance with the provisions of Article 74 of the Constitution of Kenya, it is notified for the information of the general public that the swearing-in ceremony of Isaac Mutuma M’Ethingia, as the Governor of Meru County, shall take place on Monday, 17th March, 2025, at Mwendantu Grounds, starting at 8.30 am,” the notice reads.
Mutuma was elected in 2022 alongside Kawira, who beat big names Mithika Linturi and Kiraitu Murungi to clinch the seat.
Former evangelist
Mutuma, an evangelist as is Kawira, had worked as a bishop in the Methodist Church and as a senior officer in the Kenya Prisons Service before venturing into politics.
Mutuma has also served as a child rights advocate and the Meru Council of Elders’ chairperson for many years.
On Friday, March 14, 2025, Kawira was dealt a major blow after High Court judge Bahati Mwamuye dismissed a petition she filed challenging her impeachment.
Kawira had filed the petition to challenge her impeachment by the Senate on grounds that the process violated various constitutional provisions.
She argued that the impeachment did not meet the constitutional threshold and that it was conducted in defiance of a valid court order.
Due process
However, Senate Speaker defended the impeachment process, saying they followed due process, the charges met the constitutional threshold, and the governor was accorded a fair hearing.
In its findings, the High Court averred that the Senate did not act in deliberate defiance of the court order issued by the High Court sitting in Meru.
“Accordingly, the High Court sitting at Milimani issued the following orders: a) The Amended Petition dated 23rd December 2024, which is the subject of the proceedings herein, is found to be without merit and is dismissed.
“The Gazette Notice No.10351 vol. CXXVI-No 130 dated 20th August 2024 published on 21st August 2024 and issued by the Respondent communicating the decision and/or resolution of the Senate to remove the Petitioner from office as the Governor of Meru County by way of impeachment is affirmed for the purposes of these proceedings,” Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled on Friday, March 14, 2025.
