Lobbying to save embattled Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has intensified, split ODM and Raila Odinga’s allies in the party.
In less that 48 hours after Suna East Mp Junet Mohammed (ODM) hinted that the Raila-led party was lobbying to save Waiguru from being impeached, ODM chairman John Mbadi has refuted the allegations as petty and personal.
Mbadi said that the party had not taken a stand on the matter but he indicated that ODM Senators would make a decision based on evidence adduced by the Kirinyaga MCAs who impeached Waiguru last week.
On monday, details emerged of how politics around Waiguru impeachment caused divisions between Kieleweke and Tangatanga factions who pointed that she has slim chances of survival chances because she has many enemies.
Mbadi who doubles up as the Minority Leader at the National Assembly said it would be hypocritical for ODM to blindly defend Waiguru before looking at the evidence of abuse of office and alleged misappropriation of public funds.
He stated that the March 9, 2018 handshake that Raila had with President Uhuru Kenyatta was also about fighting and ending corruption in kenya. handshake.
“ODM has not taken a position. I have the feeling that senators have the ability to serve justice to the MCAs and the governor. They have the ability to look at the law, the accusations and the evidence by the MCAs before taking a decision. If the MCAs are just playing politics with no strong grounds to impeach the governor, it will come out but it would be hypocritical of us in ODM to say we want to save someone accused of corruption.” said Mbadi. ODM boss Raila Odinga (r), Junet Mohamed (c) and John Mbadi (l) in a past courtesy photo.
Mbadi also trashed politicians advancing the petty narrative that Waiguru was being targeted because of her gender. He listed a number of governors who had been before the Senate after being impeached by their county assemblies on grounds of alleged corrupt dealings including Martin Wambora of Embu, Samboja of Taita Taveta and former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu among others.
On Sunday Junet who is also the Minority Whip at the National Assembly made it clear that ODM would defend Waiguru because the party stand with women as Waiguru who is being bullied according to him.
Yesterday Junet claimed that Mbadi was not privy to the latest discussions in the party as the stand had been taken over the weekend. He even promised to reach out to Mbadi on the same or Raila would personally call Mbadi and 'update' him on the matter.
Mbadi indeed withdrew his initial statement, citing a discussion with the party boss.
Junet said that Waiguru has been a vocal proponent of the Building Bridges Initiative and the orange party can not sit back and watch her get bullied politically because of her gender.
“There are some people out there who do not believe women can lead, but as ODM, we believe in leadership by women and we want to give them equal opportunity. We have witnessed women leading well in the government. They need to be supported,” Junet said.
The developments came as Raila kept dismissing claims of working to save Waiguru, claiming that the Senate was free to work independently.“Senators should carry out the mandate independently. I don’t need to save anyone. Let someone defend themselves based on the facts presented,” said Raila.
Elsewhere, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka also said that his outfit will allow senators to make an independent decision on Waiguru but Senate Minority Whip Mutula Kilonzo Jnr (Wiper) indicated that the party will meet and take a position.
Politicians allied to the Deputy President William Ruto have however said that they will rely on the law to handle Waiguru impeachment. “My compass will be the law. If assembly proves their case against her, I will support the ouster. If they won’t prove it, I will acquit her,” said Senator Aaron Cheruiyot.
The Kericho senator also regretted that the handshake between Uhuru and Raila that was meant to fight corruption as captured in BBI, it was turning out to be a public relations exercise.