• Among the facts relied upon is the defence Governor Mwangaza put up in the Senate during the failed impeachment attempt against her.
• They have also accused some of the officers of overseeing the distribution of the one dairy cow and the launch of the feeding programmes without policy frameworks.
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Over 15 Meru residents have filed a petition at the County Assembly seeking to impeach executive committee members of Governor Kawira Mwangaza's Cabinet for allegedly violating the Constitution and statutory laws.
In the petition filed on Wednesday, the petitioners have cited a myriad of grounds upon which they want the County Secretary and Secretary to the Cabinet, six County Executive Committee members, three chief officers and the Chief of Staff sent packing.
Among the facts relied upon is the defence Governor Mwangaza put up in the Senate during the failed impeachment attempt against her.
"She consistently put a defence on the accusations levelled against her and blamed all the constitutional and statutory laws violations on her junior officers in the executive," the petitioners said.
They also cited the usurpation of powers of the Service Board and mismanaging the public service by a section of the executive members, abetting embezzlement of public resources, interference with the management of county health facilities and the use of derogatory remarks against Deputy Governor Mutuma M'Ethingia.
They have also accused some of the officers of overseeing the distribution of the one dairy cow and the launch of the feeding programmes without policy frameworks.
"From the aforementioned, it is uncontroverted that the aforementioned executive officers have violated, infringed and threatened the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and other established statutory laws, the constitutional rights of the residents of Meru County which is illegal and that is punishable under the law," the petitioners argued.
"Herefore, your humble petitioners pray that this honourable County Assembly of Meru consider this petition as urgent since it is a public interest matter (and) institute the impeachment procedure as laid down in the Meru County Assembly Standing orders," they said.
Governor Mwangaza on November 9 survived for the second time a bid to be removed from office by way of impeachment.
The majority of the 47 Senators thrashed all the seven allegations levelled against the first-term governor including misappropriating county resources, nepotism and unethical practices, bullying and vilifying other leaders, usurping her statutory powers, contempt of court, illegally naming a public road after her husband and contempt of the Meru County Assembly.
"The result of the division indicates that the Senate has not upheld any of the impeachment charges," Speaker Amason Kingi ruled after a two-day-long hearing of the impeachment case.
"Pursuant to Article 181 of the Constitution, Section 33 (8) of the County Government Act and Standing Order 87 of the Senate Standing Orders, the Senate has failed to remove from office by impeachment Governor Kawira Mwangaza and the Governor accordingly continues to hold office," Kingi intoned.
Mwangaza survived a similar motion in December 2022 after an 11-member Senate Special Committee appointed to probe allegations against her said none were proven.
During the second impeachment attempt, 10 Senators found her guilty of Contempt of the County Assembly but 27 said the ground was unsubstantiated.
In her defence before the vote was taken, Mwangaza made a solemn appeal to the senators to spare her and give her a second chance saying "no one is an angel" and everyone "has his or her own weaknesses".
She admitted that the working relationship between her and the ward reps was frosty despite her best efforts to ensure a smooth working relationship.
"I know I need MCAs. I have tried my best and still continue to try my best to see that I work with everyone. It is my prayer to God that the weaknesses that they may have, God will help me so that as we work together as a team and make Meru people happy," she said.