Isaac Mutuma M'Ethingia has officially taken over as Meru County governor following the impeachment of Kawira Mwangaza. Mwangaza was removed from office by the Senate in late 2024, a decision that was upheld by the courts on March 14, 2025.

Mutuma, who has served as Meru’s Deputy Governor since 2022, now steps into the top leadership role amid a politically charged transition. 

He now becomes the devolved unit's fourth governor. Since the roll out of Kenya's devolved governance structure, Peter Munya, Kiraitu Murungi and the now ousted Kawira Mwangaza have served as governors.

Delivering the ruling last week, High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye dismissed Mwangaza’s petition to overturn her impeachment, stating it failed to meet the required legal threshold.

“The Gazette Notice No 10351 Volume CXXV1 No 130, dated 20th August published on 21st August 2024 and issued by the respondent communicating the decision and the resolution of the senate to remove the petitioner from office as the Governor of Meru county by way of impeachment is affirmed,” the judge stated.

The swearing in ceremony took place at Mwendantu Grounds in Meru County on Monday and was graced by leaders from in and out of the county.

Meru leaders said Mutuma's biggest assignment is for him to unite the county, which has been rocked by unending battles since the election of Mwangaza in 2022. 

Additionally, they want the new governor to bridge the gap between the Executive and the Assembly in the devolved unit.

“For the last two years Meru has been divided. His first responsibility is to see how he can unite the people of Meru and the leadership. We also expect the Governor to immediately submit the supplementary budget in the Assembly because there is an itemized budget we did and the former governor blatantly refused to implement,” said JimMuchui, the Majority Whip. 

However, even before the new governor steps into office, activist Mike Makarina has moved to court, challenging his assumption of office. 

According to the petitioner, Mutuma's oath should have come 10 days after the occurrence of a vacancy as provided for by Article 182 of the Constitution and sections 5 and 11 of the Assumption of the Office of the Governor Act, 2019.

Section 11 (2) of the Assumption of the Office of the Governor Act, mandates that the swearing-in ceremony is to be conducted on the first Thursday after the tenth day following the declaration of the final results of the election.

“The timeline stipulated for the swearing-in ceremony, being 10 days, began counting from Friday, the 14th day of March, 2025 when the Judgment was delivered and the gazette notice affirmed,” reads the petition in part.

Thus according to Mike Makina, the earliest the new Meru governor should have been sworn in should have been on Monday, March 27; the first Thursday after 10 days following the court's decision to uphold Mwangaza's impeachment. 

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