On Friday, 26 June, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru walked out of the Senate house a free woman, having won against an impeachment case challenging her use of the Kirinyaga gubernatorial seat – By Gerald Gekara.
However, in as much as many slammed the Members of the County Assembly for targetting the former Devolution Cabinet Secretary, Waiguru’s case may have indeed proven that some political heads are unshakable.
Here is why.
NYS SCANDAL
This is not the first time Waiguru has faced corruption charges. In September 2015, The National Youth Service Scandal was publicized within Kenya’s Ministry of Devolution and Planning.
Ksh. 791 million is said to have been stolen from the ministry’s coffers. Waiguru was asked to record a statement over the disappearance of the funds from the Ministry of Devolution and Planning.
Waiguru had been rumored to have bought overpriced items including condom dispensers for Ksh 25,000; a television set worth Ksh. 1.7 million and Editing software worth Ksh 450,000. She denied the allegations but later resigned from the ministry.
PROXIES
Among those mentioned in the scandal, was one Josephine Kabura Irungu, the owner of at least 11 companies that won various contracts at the National Youth Service.
She was accused of having been overpaid on each one of those contracts. In a controversial affidavit, she narrated her role in the scandal, where she became close to Waiguru, resulting in her awarding Kabura contracts to supply materials to the National Youth Scandal.
Does this ring a bell? In the MCA’s presentation, one Pauline Kamau was adversely mentioned for being the governor’s proxy. High Court Advocate Ndegwa Njiru in his presentation, accused Waiguru of placing her Personal Assistant, Pauline in powerful tendering committees in order to influence the awarding of tenders to ‘her interests’.
Even after the conclusion of the impeachment proceedings, the investigating authorities have preferred Pauline Kamau and others for investigations. She will be investigated for procurement related irregularities, as well as her qualifications for the Job.
BBI
In the spirit of uniting the nation through the Building Bridges Initiative, Raila and Uhuru Kenyatta have been seen to play a key role in saving Waiguru. She is the face of the BBI initiative in Mount Kenya, and it will be nuts to have a pillar of such ‘strength’ be soiled by a section of MCAs.
However, in the process, the MCAs proved to the nation that people who sing to the tune of the ‘deep state’ can be acquitted of any sin. This, christened as the ‘grand loss’ of the MCAs, will surely fan the anti-BBI flames.
Even as Waiguru extends an olive branch to her accusers, many eyes will be fixed on Kirinyaga, as Mount Kenya politics continue to rattle, amid Kingpin Uhuru Kenyatta’s imminent retirement.
