This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
Waiguru's Fate in Senate's Hands ¶
On June 16, 2020, Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru's fate will be decided by a divided Jubilee-dominated Senate as she prepares her defence against impeachment.
Despite silent support from the who's who in the political field, Waiguru seems to have left her fate to God, responding to the enormity of the matter with only two words: Mungu mbele (God first).
Waiguru's hopes lie in her political connections that are likely to play out in the debate for her ouster. The Senate will determine if she will be heard by a select committee of 11 members or the plenary.
While the Kieleweke faction of the Senate supports President Kenyatta, ODM leader Raila Odinga, and the BBI, those allied to Deputy President William Ruto want her out of office. Waiguru is likely to have a head start as she supports the President and Mr Odinga.
Already ODM party has thrown its weight behind her, but it will not be smooth sailing for the leader nicknamed minji minji. Waiguru is likely to face an uphill task in the divided Senate, which is fighting to control her impeachment process.
She was impeached on June 9, 2020, after 23 MCAs out of 33 voted in favour of the motion by Mutira MCA Kinyua Wangui to remove her from office. Four MCAs abstained while six were absent.
Observers reckon that Waiguru's support for the handshake between President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga has seen marked changes in how she has been conducting her politics. She decamped to the Kenyatta-Odinga faction after ditching the pro-Ruto group, which she accused of only being interested in criticising the President's development record and championing the DP's political interests instead of pushing for the region's interests.
This appeared to be a springboard that catapulted her into national politics as she became among the faces of BBI rallies spearheaded by Mr Odinga. With time, she has turned out to be the government's foremost defender on a number of issues, especially the war on graft and the Big Four Agenda.
There has been intense lobbying over the impeachment, but the political rivalry between DP Ruto and Mr Odinga is likely to play out in the Senate. ODM's director of elections, Mr Junet Mohammed, said ODM would defend Ms Waiguru, but Mr Odinga dismissed claims of whipping ODM senators to save the besieged county boss.
"The Senate should work independently and those charged to defend themselves based on the facts presented," Mr Odinga said.
Senator Christopher Lang'at told the Nation that the past records are clear and there is no need of ODM coming to the defence of the county boss. He claimed that the impeachment of Governor Waiguru should follow the law and not be spared because of her association with certain politicians.
Senate Majority Whip Irungu Kang'ata said they will give the governor a ruling according to the evidence and defence which will be tabled. "Jubilee Party will wait for evidence in support of the impeachment to be tabled plus the defence, scrutinise both and render a fair and objective verdict," Mr Kang'ata said.
