BY SAM ALFAN.
Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza has accused members of the county assembly of plotting her downfall over unfounded claims.
Speaking at Milimani Law Courts building, Kawira termed allegations brought against her by MCAs as baseless and hot hair and meant to intimidate her.
Through lawyer Danstan Omari, the Meru county boss dared MCAs to bring the impeachment motion promising to fight all the way to Supreme Court.
Accompanied by her husband Murega Biacu, Kwaira said accusations made by the MCAs does not hold water.
She called upon the MCAs to climb down from their demands for the sake of developing Meru County.
She said claims of conflict of interest were untrue, unsubstantiated and maliciously brought against her by people who are hell bend to cripple her administration and service delivery.
“It is utterly untrue that I has directed county employees to participate in furthering the interest of Baite TV. It is not also true that Baite TV is owned by our client’s husband spouse Murega Baichu. The accusers should be put to strict proof by way of cogent evidence on the ownership of Baite TV,” she said through her lawyer Omari and Samson Nyaberi.
The lawyers clarified that TV station is owned by a limited liability company in which Murega Baichu is neither a director nor a shareholder.
On claims of nepotism, the lawyer said it was not true that she has appointed her spouse to a public office going by the name County Youth Patron and Hustlers’ Ambassador.
They pointed out that Section 62 of the County Governments Act mandates the County Public Service Board with the powers to establish and abolish an office.
The lawyer said the County Public Service Board has not established such an office and the claims are not true.
Kawira said as the First Gentleman, her husband volunteered to be the Meru Youth patron with the intention of assisting the youth in developing their talents in music and arts.
“This is a charitable position that does not in any way interfere with the running of the county government departments and it is not true that he has been attending official county (sic) mandates,” she said.
She said Baichu has not been attending official county meetings or issuing directives to any county employee whatsoever. “It is further important to note that our client has not hired her sister to be her security personnel,” Omari said.
The lawyer said the security of the office of the Governor is a preserve of the National Police Service and to that end, among the assigned security personnel is her sister who is a police officer.
“Our Client’s sister is not in the County Government’s payroll and to entertain such a thought is just too far from the truth,” he said.
She added that the position of her personal assistant, held by another sister has been regularized by the County Public Service Board as required by the law.
“The advice our client got at the induction of the Governors is that in identifying the persons that should be one’s support staff, i.e. Personal assistant, personal secretary, cook, driver, messenger and gardener; one is supposed to identify very close and trusted people,” Omari said.
Speaking to the press, Baichu claimed he has been subjected to gender-based violence because of the allegations forcing him not to hitch a lift in his wife’s official car.
He said he has been forced to get services of a boda boda and that he cannot sleep in their official residence because he is not a state officer.
