Waiguru Grilled By EACC

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru in the Senate During her impeachment hearing in June 2020.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru in the Senate During her impeachment hearing in June 2020.
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Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru was on Thursday, September 9, grilled by detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over the alleged irregular payment of Ksh52.8 million.

The irregular payment was for a piece of land in South Ngiriama which she had earlier denied remitting funds to clear the payment.

The governor arrived at EACC headquarters, Integrity Centre, accompanied by her lawyers ready for questioning.

Through a post shared on social media, the governor described the summons and raids by EACC officials as a political witch-hunt.

The county chief stated the amount in question was to sort a pending bill under her predecessor in 2010 that was to cater for allocation and subdivision of land meant for a settlement scheme, adding that the amount was yet to be paid.

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru (right) at Milimani courts on Wednesday, May 19, 2021.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru (right) at Milimani courts on Wednesday, May 19, 2021.
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"Last time I said … 'on BBI let me keep quiet a bit...' immediately, EACC raided my office…  Recently I said am '… introspecting on the political way forward…'  and again, immediately I get EACC summons, complete with all the subtle threatening inflexibilities… and media alerts on an alleged payment of 52m.

"The alleged payment was allocated by County Assembly - for a pending bill that was acquired in 2010, for subdivision, allocation and cadastral mapping of over 7000 acres of South Ngariama Settlement Scheme and which EACC knows has not even been paid,"  Waiguru stated on Saturday, September 4.

Waiguru insinuated that the EACC summons were made because of her stand on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) after it flopped and the 2022 succession politics.

“Is it just coincidence, witch-hunt, or the usual attempt to shape narratives for 2022 succession politics?” she posed.

After BBI flopped in the Court of Appeal, Waiguru shared her statement claiming that it is time for the country to move forward. Recently she even came out publicly to announce that BBI was not popular in the Mt Kenya region.

“Kenya will go on. BBI intended well but we must respect the constitutional authority of the courts and find other legitimate means to achieve Kenya’s unity and prosperity," Waiguru responded on BBI's Court of Appeal flop.

On succession politics, the outspoken governor maintained that the Mt Kenya region was open to engaging with other leaders and political parties, a statement which was interpreted as denouncing her support for ODM leader Raila Odinga.

“We have not settled on anyone. There have been speculations that we are leaning towards Raila Odinga. That is not true. In fact, what we are doing is pure consultations. Whoever we think will articulate our issues is the one we will support,” Waiguru stated. 

Ann Waiguru addressing the council of governors. Source: Facebook
Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru addressing the Council of Governors.
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