Why Kawira Mwangaza is considered to have served a full term

If there were any benefits for former county bosses, immediate former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza would be entitled to them.

Despite her impeachment and subsequent replacement, she is still regarded as having served a full term.

This is based on constitutional and legal interpretations, which recognise a governor’s tenure from the moment they assume office until the next election, regardless of any interruptions.

The removal of the governor is provided for in Article 181 of the constitution.

It states that a governor may be removed from office on gross violation of this Constitution or any other law or where there are serious reasons for believing the governor has committed a crime under national or international law.

Other grounds are abuse of office or gross misconduct or physical or mental incapacity to perform the functions of the office of county governor.

Article 182, on the other hand, provides the circumstances under which the office of the governor shall become vacant.

It states that where a vacancy occurs in the office of a governor, the deputy county governor shall assume office as the governor for the remainder of the term of the governor.

The constitution further states that if a person assumes office as governor following the removal of the governor, the person shall be deemed to have served a full term if, at the date on which the person assumed office, more than two and a half years remain before the date of the next election.

This means that, by the next general election in 2027, Mutuma would have served a full term and be eligible for reelection for a final term.

A governor, as per Article 180 (7), shall not hold office for more than two terms of five years each.

Mwangaza was sworn in on August 25, 2022.

This means that as of February 2025, she had completed her two and a half years in office.

Kawira Mwangaza's deputy Isaac Mutuma was sworn in Monday morning at Mwendantu grounds in Meru, in a ceremony presided over by a judge of the High Court.

The swearing followed the High Court's decision on March 14, to uphold the impeachment of Mwangaza by the Senate.

In his ruling, Justice Bahati Mwamuye dismissed the petition challenging her removal noting it did not meet the legal threshold to overturn the Senate’s decision.