As the dust settles on the dramatic impeachment of Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza, focus shifts to her little-known deputy Isaac Mutuma M’Ethingia, who is set to assume the office of governor.
Mutuma, a Methodist Church minister with extensive public service experience, began his career as a prison officer before rising through the ranks.
He had previously worked as a child rights advocate with Plan International and a youth representative for Habitat for Humanity in the Mount Kenya region before being nominated by Mwangaza to run in the 2022 general election.
The deputy governor has also served as the chairman of several esteemed institutions and human rights officer and inmate rehabilitation program implementer within the prison services.
He has a higher diploma in forensic psychology and criminology from the Kenya Institute of Studies in Criminal Justice, as well as a bachelor’s degree in theology from Kenya Methodist University.
Mutuma is currently pursuing a master’s degree in governance and ethics at Mount Kenya University.
The church minister is set to take over the office of the governor should an already filed petition by the governor challenging the decision by the Senate to uphold her impeachment fail to sail through in the High Court.
According to the Constitution, if the governor’s office becomes vacant due to impeachment, the deputy governor automatically assumes the position for the remainder of the term.
- Mwangaza returns to office amid impeachment controversy
- Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza impeached
- Relief for Mwangaza as court suspends impeachment
A deputy governor’s ascension to office is contingent on the predecessor exhausting all available options to challenge the ouster, including going to court.
“If a vacancy occurs in the office of county governor, the deputy county governor shall assume office as county governor for the remainder of the term of the county governor,” Article 182 (2) of the Constitution states.
Governor Mwangaza on Wednesday got a reprieve after High Court judge Bahati Mwamuye issued orders suspending the Senate’s decision on Tuesday night to uphold her impeachment.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye suspended the Senate’s decision, saying Mwangaza’s case raised serious issues that should be heard and determined by the court.
The judge also issued an order stopping Senate Speaker Amason Kingi from publishing a notice in the Kenya Gazette declaring a vacancy in the office of Meru County Governor.
The case will be mentioned on September 17.
Governor Mwangaza was removed from office on Tuesday night after the Senate voted to uphold all three charges brought against her by the Meru County Assembly.
Speaker Kingi announced the results, confirming Mwangaza’s removal.
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