URP MPs want Anne Waiguru out on NYS graft claims

Some MPs from Deputy President William Ruto’s United Republican Party (URP) have joined the Opposition in pressing for the suspension of Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru over corruption allegations rocking the National Youth Service (NYS).

Days after State House openly came out to defend Ms Waiguru over the attempted Sh860 million fraud at NYS, the URP MPs said the Cabinet secretary should not be accorded preferential treatment.

Speaking on Saturday at Moding High School in Teso North within Busia County during a funds drive, MPs Kangongo Bowen (Marakwet East), Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), Jackson Kiptanui (Keiyo South), Arthur Odera (Teso North) and Cornel Serem (Aldai) said the war against corruption should not be selective.

They also said public officials who were investigated over graft and found not guilty should be reinstated.

“Over Sh800 million cannot just disappear without the knowledge of key government officials. If other Cabinet secretaries stepped aside three months ago, CS Waiguru should follow suit,” said Bowen.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the MPs said, should be given a free hand to investigate and name those who plotted to swindle NYS by inflating costs of tenders.

Another list

“EACC should come up with another list of shame,’’ said Kiptanui, adding that “we cannot allow a few people to continue to swindle taxpayers’ money.”

Serem said NYS should also be investigated and its officials held responsible for their actions.

Earlier this year, Cabinet secretaries Charity Ngilu (Lands), Kazungu Kambi (Labour), Davis Chirchir (Energy),  Felix Koskei (Agriculture) and Michael Kamau (Transport) were asked to step aside to pave way for investigations after they were named in an EACC report that President Uhuru Kenyatta submitted to Parliament in March. Kamau and Ngilu have since been charged over claims arising from the report.

Four days ago, President Kenyatta’s spokesman Manoah Esipisu, in a Press conference at State House, made it clear that Waiguru will not be suspended because there is no evidence against her.

Waiguru has explained she invited the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to investigate the attempt to manipulate the NYS’s Informational Financial Management System to irregularly pay six companies linked to three individuals.

And while URP’s Nandi Senator Stephen Sang said Waiguru should not be suspended, he made a telling demand: That all CSs and PSs who have stepped aside should be reinstated.

Sang said by asking public officials to step aside before investigations are concluded, the Head of State was succumbing to political vindictiveness that ignores the cardinal principle of innocence until proven guilty.

“Some of us raised issues then when the president asked officers in the list of shame to step aside. The President must not succumb to political vindictiveness,” Sang said.

And Sunday, MPs Sammy Mwaita (URP) and Cecily Mbarire (TNA) said the war on corruption had been hijacked and if not handled with care, it can bring down the Government.

Mbarire, who is the Runyenjes MP, also criticised the move by State House to defend Waiguru, saying inasmuch as she remains innocent, the statement sent a wrong signal.

Mwaita (Baringo Central) claimed some people were now using the war on corruption to settle political scores.

“Even the way the list was tabled was not right. They are targeting highly performing ministers,” Mwaita said, citing Ngilu, Chirchir and now Waiguru.

The URP legislators also exonerated Deputy President William Ruto from land grabbing claims over Weston Hostel and accused former Prime Minister Raila Odinga of double standards.