- For instance, last month during her first address to the assembly, MCA's walked out.
- An adamant Mwangaza then gathered a few of his supporters at the gates of the county assembly and began addressing them.
Image: DENNIS DIBONDO
Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza's style of leadership could be the major undoing that has greatly contributed to squabbles with MCAs.
Mwangaza is a politician who shoots from the hip, a tell it all leader.
Her leadership entails a kind of public baraza where she asks residents for their opinion in dealing with certain leaders and issues.
For instance, last month during her first address to the assembly, MCA's walked out.
An adamant Mwangaza then gathered a few of her supporters at the gates of the county assembly and began addressing them.
"All they want from me is handouts so that they can do what they are supposed to do according to the constitution. Do you want me to give handouts," she said.
Things later turned chaotic after Mwangaza termed the MCAs corrupt.
That week, she went to Athwana ward where she summoned the MCA Mwenda Ithili, who is also minority leader.
She asked for forgiveness in front of residents for what transpired in the assembly.
In the clip that went viral and was seen by the star, Ithili stood his ground.
"Come and ask for forgiveness for what you did to me in the assembly. Do not fear the speaker I will protect you," Mwangaza said.
However, when Ithili was given the microphone and tried to exonerate himself from the blame, Mwangaza took it away before he could express himself further.
Meru speaker Ayub Bundi said Mwangaza likes to play victim to the people while maligning other leaders.
"She wants to play victim and mudsling other leaders so that residents can believe that the problem is with other leaders and not her," Bundi said in an interview with a local tv on Thursday.
Bundi went ahead to poke holes into Mwangaza style of leadership.
The speaker said the county boss has been leaking official letters in the office of the governor to social media.
Bundi said after MCAs walked out on her that week, they met in a funeral in Tigania and he was willing to truce the governor with MCAs.
"While addressing mourners I told the governor I was ready to call the MCAs so that they can resolve their differences. However when the governor spoke she became so personal and angry with me, I didn't expect that from a leader," he said.
The speaker further said the governor is not sincere in her promise to give MCAs ward fund, the main issue that has created a tussle between the governor and MCAS.
Mwangaza had promised Sh100 million per ward in her manifesto.
The MCAs however say the governor is unreachable but Mwangaza says she has visited about 20 wards since she was elected and met with MCAs.
Unlike Mwangaza, her predecessor Kiraitu Murungi, liked to play conservative leader in public.
He rarely engaged other leaders in public spats and liked to resolve political issues in closed door meetings.
Mwangaza trounced Kiraitu without oiling her campaigns.
The former women representative campaigned on a development agenda, saying she did so much with the little she had in her docket.
She was often accompanied by his husband in his campaigns where she portrayed herself as a philanthropic leader and was able to convince Meru electorates to clinch the gubernatorial seat.
Just like President William Ruto, Mwangaza was able to convince the less fortunate and low income Meru's, who are the majority of voters.
She convinced them that she was the leader who knows where the shoe pinches.