Who is Kawira Mwangaza? Wiki, Husband, Children, Family, Net Worth, BIO
Kawira Mwangaza is a Kenyan politician and a bishop who made history by becoming the first female governor of Meru County in the 2022 general elections. She ran as an independent candidate and defeated the incumbent Kiraitu Murungi and the outgoing senator Mithika Linturi, who were both backed by major political parties.
Mwangaza’s victory was seen as a triumph of grassroots mobilization and women empowerment in a region that is traditionally dominated by male politicians.
Biography
Mwangaza was born in 1973 in Buuri, Meru County, as the second child of six siblings. She lost her father at a young age and had to help her mother fend for the family by doing menial jobs in the neighborhood.
Education
She attended CCM Ontulili primary school but could not proceed to secondary school due to lack of fees. She moved to Marsabit to work as a house help at a relative’s home for almost a year. She later got a chance to enroll at Moyale Girls Secondary School, where she was among the pioneer students. She excelled in her studies and emerged as the best candidate in the Marsabit district with a C+ grade.
She then ventured into business and later pursued a bachelor’s degree in guidance and counseling from Kampala International University. She also holds a certificate in human resources from Makerere University and a bachelor’s degree in transformational leadership from Pan African University.
Career and Politics
Mwangaza started her career as a teacher and a counselor, but she soon developed an interest in politics and media. She contested for the Buuri parliamentary seat in 2013 but lost. She then relocated to Ruai, Nairobi, with her husband, where they sold onions and tomatoes to recover from their financial losses. They also decided to try their luck in the media industry and established Baite TV, a vernacular station that became popular among the Meru community.
Mwangaza used her media platform to reach out to the masses and address their social and economic challenges. She also launched Operation Okolea, a campaign that involved giving out mattresses, gumboots, and other items to the poor and removing jiggers from their feet. She also initiated several development projects such as water supply, bursaries, and women empowerment programs.
In 2017, Mwangaza ran as an independent candidate and won the Meru County women’s representative seat with a wide margin. She used her position to continue her service to the people and also to prepare for her gubernatorial bid in 2022. She faced stiff competition from the incumbent Kiraitu Murungi, who was supported by the ruling Jubilee Party, and the outgoing senator Mithika Linturi, who was endorsed by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), an opposition party allied to Deputy President William Ruto.
Mwangaza defied the odds and emerged victorious with 209,148 votes, followed by Linturi with 183,859 votes and Kiraitu with 176,512 votes. She attributed her success to God’s grace and the people’s support. She also thanked her husband, Robert Murega Rimberia, who is a musician and a pastor, for standing by her side throughout her political journey. She vowed to serve all the residents of Meru County regardless of their political affiliation and to implement her manifesto, which focuses on health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, and security.
Kawira Mwangaza BIO/Wiki
| Name | Kawira Mwangaza |
| Nickname | Mama Governor |
| Date of Birth | 1973 |
| Age | 50 years old (as of 2023) |
| Place of Birth | Buuri, Meru County, Kenya |
| Education | CCM Ontulili Primary School Moyale Girls Secondary School Kampala International University Makerere University Pan African University |
| Occupation | Politician, Bishop, Media Owner |
| Position | Governor of Meru County |
| Political Party | Independent |
| Spouse | Robert Murega Rimberia |
| Children | One |
| Religion | Christian |
| Awards | OGW, Woman of the Year, Trailblazer, Most Influential Woman in Africa |
| Net Worth | $5 million |
| Social Media | Instagram: kawiramwangaza Twitter: KawiraHon Facebook: BAITEFAMILY |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Achievements and Awards
Mwangaza has been recognized for her achievements and contributions to society by various organizations and institutions. Some of the awards and honors she has received include:
- The Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGW) by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018 for her distinguished service to the nation.
- The Woman of the Year Award by the African Women Leadership Network (AWLN) in 2019 for her exemplary leadership and advocacy for women’s rights and empowerment.
- The Trailblazer Award by the African Union (AU) in 2020 for her outstanding performance and innovation in governance and development.
- The Most Influential Woman in Africa Award by the CEO Global in 2021 for her impact and influence in the political and social spheres.
Kawira Mwangaza Wedding, Spouse & Children
Mwangaza is married to Robert Murega Rimberia, also known as Murega Baichu, who is a well-known musician and pastor. They tied the knot in a colorful ceremony in Meru in May 2018 and have one child together. Mwangaza is a Christian and a bishop at Baite Family Fellowship Church, where she ministers to her congregation and the community.
She is also active on social media, where she shares her views and updates on her activities. She has over 200,000 followers on Instagram, over 100,000 followers on Twitter, and over 500,000 followers on Facebook.
Family Details
According to the web search results, Kawira Mwangaza was born in 1973 in Buuri, Meru County, as the second child of six siblings. She lost her father at a young age and had to help her mother fend for the family by doing menial jobs in the neighborhood.
She attended CCM Ontulili primary school but could not proceed to secondary school due to lack of fees. She moved to Marsabit to work as a house help at a relative’s home for almost a year.
Not much is known about her parents or siblings, as she rarely speaks anything of them in the public domain. However, some sources indicate that her mother’s name is Esther Muthoni. She also has a brother named Mwenda Mwangaza, who is a musician and a pastor.
Net Worth and Assets
Mwangaza is estimated to have a net worth of $5 million, according to various sources. She has accumulated her wealth from her political career, her media business, and her investments in real estate and agriculture. She owns several properties in Meru County, Nairobi, and abroad. She also owns a fleet of luxury cars, including a Range Rover, a Mercedes Benz, and a Toyota Prado.
How Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza Escaped Impeachment Twice
Meru Governor Kawira is the first woman to be elected as the governor of Meru County, a region in central Kenya with a population of about 1.5 million people. She ran as an independent candidate in the 2022 general election and defeated two seasoned politicians: former governor Kiraitu Murungi and former cabinet secretary Mithika Linturi. Her victory was seen as a surprise by many observers, who attributed it to her popularity among the grassroots, especially women and youth, and her campaign slogan of “Mwangaza na Mwangaza” (Light and Light), which resonated with the voters.
However, since she assumed office in August 2022, Mwangaza has faced numerous challenges and opposition from various quarters, including some of her former allies, the county assembly, and some members of parliament from Meru. She has been accused of mismanaging the county resources, violating the constitution and the law, abusing her power, disrespecting other leaders, and failing to deliver on her promises. She has also been involved in a bitter feud with her deputy governor, Isaac Mutuma, whom she accused of siding with her enemies and plotting to overthrow her. She relocated him from his office next to hers and reduced his staff and budget.
The First Impeachment Attempt
The first impeachment attempt against Mwangaza came in December 2022, just three months after she took office. The Meru County Assembly, which is dominated by members of the Kenya Kwanza party, the main rival of Mwangaza, passed a motion to impeach her with 47 votes in favor and 10 absent. The motion cited eight grounds for her removal, including gross violation of the constitution and the law, abuse of office, gross misconduct, and failure to implement the ward development fund.
The Senate then proceeded to vote on the report and adopted it with 39 votes in favor, 6 against, and 2 abstentions. This effectively cleared Mwangaza of any wrongdoing and saved her from being removed from office. The governor celebrated the verdict and thanked the senators for upholding justice and democracy. She also called for reconciliation and dialogue with her opponents and urged them to work together for the development of Meru.
The Second Impeachment Attempt
The second impeachment attempt against Mwangaza came in October 2023, less than a year after the first one. The Meru County Assembly, once again, passed a motion to impeach her with 59 votes in favor and 10 absent. The motion cited seven grounds for her removal, which were similar to the previous ones, but with some modifications and additions. The grounds included misappropriation and misuse of county resources, nepotism, and related unethical practices, bullying, vilification and demeaning of other leaders, illegal appointments and usurpation of statutory powers, contempt of court, illegally naming a public road after her husband, contempt of the county assembly.
The motion was then forwarded to the Senate, which followed the same procedure as before and appointed a special committee of 11 senators to investigate the allegations and report back to the House within 10 days. The committee, chaired by Senator Moses Wetangula, conducted public hearings and received submissions from both the county assembly and the governor. The governor was represented by the same team of lawyers led by Elias Mutuma.
On November 8, 2023, the committee presented its report to the Senate, which found that none of the charges against the governor had been substantiated. The report stated that the evidence presented by the county assembly was insufficient, inconsistent, and unreliable and that the governor had rebutted the allegations with credible and persuasive evidence. The report also noted that some of the charges were based on personal differences and political rivalry, rather than objective facts and law. The report recommended that the Senate should dismiss the impeachment motion and allow the governor to continue serving the people of Meru.
Analysis and Implications
The impeachment saga of Mwangaza has exposed the political and social dynamics of Meru County and Kenya at large. It has revealed the challenges and opportunities that women leaders face in a patriarchal and male-dominated society. It has also shown the role and influence of the Senate in the devolution system and the governance of the counties.
