Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has suffered a blow after the High Court upheld her impeachment by the Senate.

Justice Bahati Mwamuye while delivering the ruling on Friday, March 14, stated that the impeachment against embattled Mwangaza should stand as it followed procedural fairness and constitutional requirements.

“The petitioner (Mwangaza) has not shown that the senate’s analysis of the applicable law and evidence was so profoundly incorrect that no reasonable quasi-judicial body properly applying its mind to the law and the facts would have arrived at that conclusion and thus warranting interference by this court,” ruled the Judge.

Justice Mwamuye stated that gubernatorial impeachment is an invaluable safeguard against impunity and abuse of office that must be jealously protected.

Mwangaza's lawyers, Elias Mutuma and Elisha Ongoya, in submissions called on the court to uphold the will of Meru voters who elected her into office adding that the impeachment motion lacked merit.

The embattled Meru governor had warned that without the court’s intervention, she would be forced out of office, paving the way for her deputy’s swift swearing-in.

She had further stated that this would unfairly portray her as guilty even before the court had fully examined the issues raised in the petition and wanted the court to acknowledge that she was elected by the people, hence should be permitted to complete her term in office.

Before the verdict was delivered, Mwangaza remained confident that the courts would rule in her favor and blamed her troubles on leaders within the Meru County government.

Mwangaza was impeached by the Senate in August 2024 on several charges including gross violation of the constitution of Kenya, gross misconduct, and abuse of office.

Following her impeachment, Deputy Governor Isaac Mutuma M'Ethingia is set to assume the role of Meru Governor for the remainder of the term.