Waiguru speaks out on being Uhurus FAVOURITE in Kirinyaga race

Former Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary, Anne Mumbi Waiguru, now says that President Uhuru Kenyatta has no preferred candidate in the Kirinyaga gubernatorial contest in the next year’s General Election.

Waiguru, who has already expressed interest in the position currently held by Governor Joseph Ndathi, says that the Jubilee Party nominations will be free and fair, an assurance that President Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, have always held.

Speaking during the election of the party’s interim officials, Waiguru said that Jubilee Party is founded on grounds of fairness and transparency and that the nomination process will be conducted without favourability of any candidate.

Waiguru will face off with the incumbent, Governor Ndathi, Kirinyaga Central MP Joseph Gitari, politician Muriithi Kagai, and Narc Kenya leader, Martha Karua, all who have expressed optimism that they will emerge victorious after Tuesday, August 8, 2017 elections.

Karua will be seeking the gubernatorial seat on her Narc Kenya party ticket while Waiguru and Ndathi will square it out in the Jubilee nominations for the party ticket.

Karua, who contested for the presidency in 2013, shelved her presidential ambition in the 2017 elections but has remained non-committal on her presidential candidate in the next year’s contest.

The Narc Kenya leader’s announcement early November followed three months after Waiguru announced her interest to run for the Kirinyaga Gubernatorial seat in 2017.

Waiguru, who made the announcement in Kirinyaga Town after receiving a Golden membership certificate for joining President Uhuru Kenyatta’s The National Alliance (TNA) party, which has since been dissolved, said she was ready to face off with Ndathi for the Jubilee Party ticket.

Waiguru welcomed Karua into the race saying that the people of Kirinyaga would choose the best candidate who will address their needs.

Speaking to Citizen Digital on Wednesday, November 2, Waiguru said Karua is free to join the race, though exuding confidence of flooring her in the 2017 elections.

“It is her (Karua’s) democratic right to seek election. We are not worried as we have the support of the people of Kirinyaga,” stated Waiguru.

Waiguru is, however, facing an uphill task following allegations of abetting corruption during her tenure at the helm of Devolution Ministry.

During her tenure, the country lost Ksh 1.6 billion through dubious dealings at the National Youth Service (NYS).

The NYS scam has seen Waiguru and members of the Jubilee Party allied to Deputy President William Ruto in heated exchanges over who should take responsibility for the loss.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, Kipchumba Murkomen, and National Assembly Majority Leader, Aden Duale, who have been indirectly linked to the scandal by Waiguru, have accused her of dragging their names to the corrupt dealings.

Mid November, Murkomen lashed out at Waiguru saying that she must be prosecuted over the loss of taxpayers’ money at the National Youth Service (NYS) during her tenure as CS.

Murkomen said that action must be taken against Waiguru if the country is to make meaningful gains in the war against graft.

Murkomen, who was mentioned against DP Ruto’s right hand man, Farouk Kibet, as having a hand in the NYS scam, accused Waiguru of perpetrating graft at the NYS.

Early November, Duale accused Waiguru of working with the opposition to soil the name of DP Ruto and members of the Jubilee Party.

Without mentioning names, Duale said that Waiguru was being used to implicate DP Ruto in the scandal warning her to leave the Deputy President alone.

“We know who you are working for. DP Ruto is an important pillar in Jubilee and you should give him space to serve Kenyans,” Duale said.

Late last month, the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader, Raila Odinga, accused President Kenyatta of shielding Waiguru in the NYS scam.

Odinga questioned the government’s silence on Waiguru despite other top devolution Ministry officials being charged with economic-related crimes saying that the government has been manipulating graft cases touching on people closer to the President.

But will the NYS scandal play a factor in Waiguru’s shot at a political office?

Additional reporting by Johnson Muriithi