It has been requested that the Meru County Assembly look into the "mental capacity" of the local governor, Kawira Mwangaza.
In his petition, Alex Kimathi urged the assembly to take into consideration introducing a resolution calling for an inquiry into Mwangaza's mental capacity to carry out the duties of the governorship.
According to Article 144 of the Constitution and Section 33 (9) of the County Government Act, Kimathi, such inquiries are permitted.
“It is in the public domain that Meru has experienced an unprecedented degree of political instability, disunity and uncertainty caused by constant friction between the governor, members of the county assembly and other elected leaders,” the petition reads.
The governor's recent decision to rename Kirung'a-Kabachia-Mulathankari Road in honour of her husband Murega Baichu without following the proper procedures, according to Kimathi, further proves that the governor makes irrational, ridiculous, and unpredictable judgements.
He continued by saying that the governor had isolated Isaac Mutuma, the deputy governor, by elevating her husband to the position of "Okolea Programme" patron.
“The erratic, outrageous and abrasive conduct of the governor could be due to bipolar condition, a mental illness that causes unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, activity levels and concentration, making it difficult to carry out day-to-day tasks,” he stated.
According to the Taskforce on Mental Health and Well-Being's study, which said that the number of Kenyans suffering from poor mental health has reached unacceptable proportions, incidences of mental diseases are becoming a worldwide and national epidemic.
Meru's residents, he continued, are "exhausted and feel hopeless" as a result of the governor's disagreements with other elected officials, which have lowered the county's development requirements.
“It cannot be that one person governor- is a good person and 11 elected Members of Parliament, the deputy governor and members of the county assembly are bad people,” he argued.
He said it is a matter of general public interest to remove any doubt as to the mental ability of the governor.
‘You'll strangle yourself with those vocals,’ Salasya told