Governor Mwangaza: Why I can't set foot in Igembe

 

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has stated that she avoided the Igembe region due to alleged 'threats to her life'.

Mwangaza was addressing a crowd that had marched to her office to demand a visit to the region. She claimed that she had been attacked by goons during President William Ruto's visit to Meru on January 26.

“I was first attacked last year while donating a cow in Maua. When I accompanied the President to Igembe, I was heckled. My vehicle was ransacked by goons who were baying for my blood,” Mwangaza detailed.

“Luckily I had left for the next stop in the President’s chopper. My driver was in fear throughout the President’s tour in Igembe. Due to these incidents, I could not visit Igembe because of my safety.”

She claimed that Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mithika Linturi and Member of Parliament (MP) Dan Kiili of Igembe Central had hired young people to harass her in front of the Head of State.

Since then, the MP for Igembe Central has refuted the accusations against him.

The Nation claims that Mwangaza has attributed her current situation to politicians who oppose her efforts to combat corruption.

“All the battles I have encountered are because I defend our resources against corrupt individuals. I vowed to never allow anyone to misuse public resources,” she said.

Since her election in 2022, Governor Mwangaza has encountered resistance from Meru leaders and has been the target of two Senate impeachment motions.

President William Ruto was heckled by the crowd in January 2024 when Mwangaza spoke at a public event in Kituine, Meru County.

Another incident occurred in September 2023 at Mwangaza's "Okolea Program" function in the Igembe South constituency. Disgruntled locals demonstrated by butchering a cow she had given.

Following the disagreements between Deputy Governor Isaac Mutuma and Governor Mwangaza, there was this protest.