This archive report was first published on 14 June 2020.
June 11, 2020, was a significant day for Anne Waiguru, the embattled Kirinyaga Governor, as she met with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at a fancy club in Karen. The meeting, which lasted over two hours, was reportedly aimed at appealing to Odinga to use his influence to water down the impeachment motion against Waiguru.
According to a source, Waiguru was confident that the Kieleweke wing of the Jubilee Party would help her defeat the motion. She had also reached out to several Jubilee Party allies and needed Odinga's help to retain her job.
Waiguru arrived at the meeting a few minutes before 7 p.m. and was joined by Odinga shortly after. The pair were also joined by Kiambu Governor James Nyoro and Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga.
It is clear that the meeting was about saving Waiguru's job. As one source stated, 'She wants to be saved at the Senate. He (Raila) was with his close allies, and I don’t need to name names.'
State House's stance on the impeachment may have changed after Kirinyaga Woman Representative Purity Ngirici framed the tussle as between Tangatanga and Kieleweke. However, some sources believe that framing the war in this way was not wise.
Waiguru has suffered two significant blows since her impeachment was put in motion. She obtained a court order to block the County Assembly from impeaching her, but it was disregarded. The High Court had temporarily stopped assembly proceedings due to Covid-19.
Justice Weldon Korir declined to overturn the impeachment of the Kirinyaga governor, ruling that the Kirinyaga MCAs didn't violate any court order and ordered Waiguru to cater for the costs of the suit.
Her fate now lies in the hands of the Senate after Speaker Kenneth Lusaka confirmed receiving her impeachment resolution. However, some lawmakers have questioned the legality of the Kirinyaga county assembly debating the impeachment motion despite a court order.
