Former Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary (CS) now facing impeachment, Anne Waiguru, Kirinyaga Governor is a woman whose name reeks theft wherever she goes.
During her tenure at NYS, about Sh791 million ($7,650,000) is said to have been stolen from the ministry’s coffers, with some saying that figure could have been as high Sh1.8 billion ($17,400,000), she did not take responsibility for the millions that went missing in her ministry.
Fast forward to the people of Kirinyaga being handed the alleged thief as Governor, Members of the Kirinyaga County Assembly (MCAs) who get to witness her dealings first hand say it’s a disaster, so much so that they have decided to impeach her.
The MCAs want her out due to her violation Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act 2015 by usurping the powers of the Accounting officer and establishing an irregular tender evaluation committee composed of her partisan staff namely Pauline Kamau and Wayne Gichira. The two, Wangui said, take direct instructions from the governor and alternate as chairpersons of all major tender evaluation committees awarding tenders to the governors preferred bidders.
The embattled governor also stole Sh10 million that were written as allowances for foreign travel in the county books, MCAs say these are trips she never undertook.
This alleged master thief is also accused of paying ghost workers, an example is an approval by the governor of payment of an imprest of Sh14 million to one Francis Muriithi Kariuki which is yet to be accounted for.
Three years after her election, Kirinyaga is running dry, Waiguru was declared a cat-walking on a tight rope after the KEMRI land row. The 100-acre land has been at the center of a fierce battle between Waiguru and Interior PS Karanja Kibicho. The latter had accused Waiguru of having a vested interest in the land.
Ms. Waiguru is not satisfied though, should she survive the impeachment, she has set her eyes on a national seat come 2022
