Former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has dismissed claims that ongoing court cases will block her from contesting the 2027 gubernatorial race, branding the allegations “lies and propaganda” pushed by her political rivals.
She accused leaders behind her impeachment of spreading misinformation to lock her out of the ballot.
“I want to inform the people of Meru not to listen to lies and propaganda that there is any court case that will prevent me from vying for the governor in 2027. Let them find another lie. I am 100 per cent sure I will be on the ballot in 2027,” Mwangaza said.
Legal experts say a pending case does not automatically bar a candidate from seeking elective office. Lawyer Simeon Atheru said courts have consistently held that eligibility only changes after a final determination.
“The current legal position is that as long as she has a pending appeal and an election is declared before her appeal is determined, she will be eligible to vie,” Atheru said.
He added that if a court later rules against a sitting governor, it would issue appropriate orders.
“The court will take judicial notice of her being in office and grant appropriate orders, including whether she immediately ceases to hold office or whether the will of the people overtakes the earlier impeachment,” he said.
Mwangaza named former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi, ex-governor Peter Munya, Governor Mutuma M’Ethingia, Kiraitu Murungi, Senator Kathuri Murungi, MPs, MCAs and the Woman Representative as being behind her removal.
“They worked so hard to see me removed from office, saying Mama was a block to development. They used demonstrations, political groupings, sub-tribal politics and even went to State House to plead for my impeachment,” she said.
She claimed her rivals believed her impeachment would clear the path to victory in 2027.
“They thought they would have an easy time clinching the governor’s seat without me on the ballot. They engineered my impeachment, but none of them is better than me,” Mwangaza said.
Mwangaza also announced that her political outfit, Umoja na Maendeleo, will field a candidate in the next election.
“Umoja na Maendeleo will field a governor candidate, and it will be ‘Governor ni Mama’,” she declared.
She said she has been touring villages and accused current county leadership of failing residents.
“It is back to school, but many parents have no school fees, no Sh50 for upkeep and nothing to feed their families due to the current bad leadership,” she said.
Mwangaza thanked Meru voters for electing her as an independent candidate in 2022, saying she had stepped back from politics for a year on advice from bishops and friends.
Several leaders, including Munya, Linturi, M’Ethingia and Senator Kathuri Murungi, have declared interest in the 2027 Meru governor race. Analysts say regional dynamics and vote splitting could play a decisive role.
