My life is in danger – former CS Anne Waiguru

Former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru has said that she fears for her life after swearing an affidavit naming some Jubilee leaders in the National Youth Service (NYS) tender scam.

In a letter to the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet, Waiguru said that her sworn affidavit, naming National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale, Senate’s Deputy Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich and Deputy President William Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet has led to life threats, asking Boinnet to provide her with security.

“Upon issuance of my affidavit, I have received veiled threats including one by Hon. Aden Duale in which he promised to go on sabbatical to go after Anne Waiguru. Other senior politicians have also accused me of breaking the Jubilee coalition,” she stated.

Waiguru claimed that, despite the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) exonerating her from the NYS scandal, the real perpetrators of the scam were using businesswoman Josephine Kabura to introduce fresh links through an apparently false and unsubstantiated affidavit released over two weeks ago.

“Knowing Kenya’s political climate and the influence that these politicians command, I am naturally fearful for my life. I am also worried that there will be attempts to interfere with investigations to ensure that there are trumped up charges against me.”

“Whilst I trust the investigative and prosecutorial institutions to be guided by the law, I feel that unless I am issued with appropriate arrangements I stand a risk of being physically harmed. I am, therefore, requesting your office to issue me with appropriate security to forestall any possible attacks on me.”

The NYS saga took a new twist last week after Waiguru accused Duale, who is also Garissa Township MP, and Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet Senator) of attempting to intimidate former NYS Deputy Director General Adan Harakhe into allowing fraudulent transactions at the NYS.

The reports caught the attention of Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter, a Jubilee legislator-turned-critic and his Kapseret counterpart Oscar Sudi who called for investigations into the allegations levelled against Duale and Murkomen.

The MPs said that any money lost through fraudulent transactions at the NYS must be recovered noting that Duale and Murkomen should resign from their parliamentary positions and give way for investigations.

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has also called on Duale and Murkomen to return money allegedly stolen from the National Youth Service (NYS) saying they should not take Kenyans in circles.

CORD leader Raila Odinga has also echoed calls for Duale, Rotich and Murkomen to resign pending investigations into the allegations levelled against them.

Both Duale and Murkomen have however denied the allegations terming Waiguru’s affidavit as a ploy to divert public attention from the real issue at hand and divide the Jubilee coalition.

Murkomen, in his defence, stated that he met one of the suspects in the saga, Ben Gethi, to offer legal advice saying Waiguru’s attempts to divide Jubilee will not succeed.

The Elgeyo Marakwet Senator further accused the former devolution CS of arm-twisting President Uhuru Kenyatta into halting investigations in the National Youth Service (NYS) scandal.

He said that Waiguru is seeking exoneration from the scandal through coercion and threats to the President and his deputy William Ruto by targeting their key allies.

In his response, Duale said Waiguru was out to split the coalition by creating a rift between Ruto-led URP and President Kenyatta-led TNA.

Similar sentiments were raised by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria who called on Waiguru to desist from alienating some members of the coalition.

“When I defended NYS, I was fixed and taken to court while Waiguru was Cabinet Secretary. Despite all that we held a meeting with Waiguru and Jubilee legislators to find a way out. Why didn’t she name those allegedly involved in the scandal then?” He questioned.

A section of Jubilee leaders, led by TNA Secretary General Onyango Oloo, called on Murkomen and Duale to carry their own crosses and stop dragging the coalition into the matter.

@benjaminwafula