President Uhuru Kenyatta’s team split on CS Waiguru as EACC grills Devolution PS Peter Mangiti

Devolution Principal Secretary Peter Mangiti leaves the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) offices after being questioned over the Sh791 million scandal at the National Youth Service. [PHOTO: WILLIS AWANDU]

NAIROBI: Sharp divisions have emerged in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee coalition on the fate of beleaguered Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru.

With pressure mounting on Ms Waiguru to step aside following damning reports of financial impropriety in her docket, National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale led 10 MPs in defending her and blamed forces scheming to taint the Government for her tribulations.

They blamed the increased cases of corruption in Government on Opposition moles and unnamed powerful brokers.

Mr Duale and the 10 MPs, who included five senators, turned the heat on Planning Principal Secretary Peter Mangiti for releasing the dossier showing how the ministry spent billions in exaggerated pricing.

It was a day that saw Mr Mangiti questioned for over eight hours by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over the Sh791 million National Youth Service (NYS) scandal.

Mangiti had been summoned by EACC Director of Investigation Abdi Mohammed on October 30.

The summons required him to be questioned by EACC investigators Gideon Mukaria and Mohamud Hassan on the NYS Sh791 million scandal as well as record a statement on the same.

In what the principal secretary in charge of planning in the ministry described as 'shedding of light,' Mangiti was grilled for over eight hours at the EACC offices at Integrity Centre.

The Jubilee leaders also blamed the Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo for revealing the Eurobond scandal where money was withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund without her approval.

"We have noticed a trend of powerful brokers/vendors trying to use public officials to drive a corruption narrative against the Government," said Duale told a news conference at Parliament Buildings.

Duale said the powerful brokers, whom he did not name, have survived in previous governments looting public coffers and have held the Government hostage.

He also did not name their "collaborators" within the civil service who were driving the "corruption narrative".

"We ask the President and the Deputy President to keep their focus on delivering the promise they made to the Kenyan people and forget all these political shenanigans going around," said Duale.

With the deputy Majority Leader Naomi Shabaan (Taveta) and MPs Ndung'u Gethenji (Tetu), Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete), Bare Shill (Fafi), Maison Leshoomo (Samburu), and nominated senators Naisula Lesuuda, Beth Mugo, Zipporah Kittony, Paul Njoroge egging him on, Duale said Waiguru will be "subjected to due process and not mob lynching".

Waiguru has explained her role as a Cabinet secretary is largely on policy issues and does not extend to financial and procurement matters for which respective accounting officers should be held responsible.

FIRE CS

Duale spoke as a statement circulated Thursday suggesting that 28 Jubilee MPs wanted President Kenyatta to fire Waiguru.

The statement read: "Fact is: the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Devolution cannot stay in office amid ongoing shocking revelations of graft under her watch. She owes it to Kenyans to step aside. Failure to which the President should sack her!"

Thursday, Jubilee MPs Kabando wa Kabando (Mukurweini), Mithika Linturi (Igembe South), Humphrey Njuguna (Gatanga), Peter Gitau (Mwea), Joseph M'Eruaki (Igembe North), Kanini Kega (Kieni) and Kigo Njenga (Gatundu North) were some of the MPs who confirmed to The Standard that they were part of the move to kick Waiguru out.

Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter, the sponsor of a motion to impeach Waiguru, has claimed 41 more MPs including 30 from "Central Kenya and upper Eastern" have joined 88 who had signed for the motion.

Mr Linturi who tried and failed to have Waiguru impeached, due to what he said was pressure from State House, said Waiguru's continued stay in Government was brewing despondency.

"I have always questioned the President on why he keeps protecting this particular CS, yet she keeps giving the Jubilee government a bad name. Anything calling for her resignation I am in support," said Linturi.

Mr Njenga, who had been listed as one of those supporting the ultimatum backtracked, but said he would back Waiguru's exit from Government due to the allegations of massive graft in her docket.

"I am not giving the President an ultimatum, but I am appealing to the morality of Waiguru to step aside like (former minister Amos) Kimunya did (in the last government). If she is innocent, she can come back," said Njenga.

It also emerged that majority of Jubilee MPs and senators boycotted a meeting held on Wednesday at a Nairobi hotel to discuss the fate of Waiguru.

"Instead of attending such meetings, I would be better working for my people. I was in Mwea with some constituency commitments and I don't think I would get time to attend such gatherings," Mr Gitau said.

Mr Kega said he had "other more serious business to attend." "A meeting to discuss what? We cannot be talking about the same thing everyday, we need to see action being taken. The fight against corruption must be fought by all, let those implicated carry their own cross," Kega said.

LET HER GO

Deputy Majority Whip (National Assembly) Ben Washiali (Mumias East, UDF) Thursday said that Waiguru has become a burden to Jubilee and beseeched President Uhuru Kenyatta to let her go.

"Whether guilty or not guilty, the CS must resign or be kicked out. The President should sack the CS if she insists on staying put. Her continued stay at the ministry is making it difficult for the Government to condemn corruption," said Mr Washiali.