The husband of embattled Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has not been employed by the county, a Senate committee has heard.
The Senate Special Committee probing grounds for the impeachment of Kawira was told that Murega Baichu does not have a letter of appointment or a physical office allocated to him.
Harrison Gitonga, who is Meru County Chief of Staff and Kawira’s Private Secretary, further told the committee that Baichu does not draw any salary or allowances from the devolved unit.
“The First Gentleman is not part of the staff and there is no physical office for him or letter of appointment,” he said.
While impeaching the governor, Meru County Assembly cited illegal appointments and nepotism as some of the grounds for her ouster.
On Tuesday during the first day of the hearing, the assembly played a video clip showing Kawira announcing that she had appointed her husband to the position of the Patron of the Meru Youth Service.
She also named him the Meru Hustlers Ambassador.
According to the Assembly, the position of Patron of the Meru Youth Service was non-existent.
It added that any recruitment also ought to be conducted in a transparent and competitive process.
The assembly further said the office of the Meru Youth Service could only be established by the Meru County Public Service Board.
On Wednesday, Gitonga told the committee that he wrote to the Meru County Public Service Board when the allegations emerged.
“When governor was accused of illegal appointments and nepotism, I wrote to the County Public Service Board to inquire about the alleged recruitment of the First Gentleman. I was told there was no such appointment,” he added.
Gitonga added that he also wrote to the County Payroll Manager to find out if Baichu was drawing any salary.
“I was told he was not on the payroll,” he stated.
Mwangaza has pleaded not guilty to all charges that informed her impeachment.
The County Assembly has accused Kawira of violating the Constitution 62 times, all committed within 64 days.
Kawira became the first county boss to be impeached barely three months after being sworn in.
All 67 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) present during the impeachment session voted to remove her.
