Every government from the dawn of independence to date has had one: what would be called the black sheep of the regime. But whereas past black sheep lasted longer before their traits were noticed, what sets off Anne Waiguru from her predecessors is her haste to manifest her unpleasant hues.
The layer of dirt that, in the estimation of Kenyans, has caked itself on Waiguru is so thick that one would be forgiven to think that she has been in power for 30 years and not three. Never before in the history of Kenya has a minister so fast murkied herself.
A high value source in the diplomatic circuit let out that even foreign envoys are flabbergasted by the imperviousness displayed by Waiguru’s boss Uhuru Kenyatta, and have decided to throw their weight about.
According to the source, the US State Department is preparing a statement on the state of corruption in Waiguru’s Devolution and Planning ministry.
The statement, we were let in, is aimed bull’s eye fashion directly at the centre of power in Kenya and when it is finally released, it will open yet another battleline between Uhuru and the West. Tongue in cheek though, the source said that the move could be what Uhuru is secretly praying
for to once and for all have Waiguru dealt with on his behalf as he has seemingly failed to muster the courage to cast her off. This even as churches ask that he opens his eyes and ears and sees and hears what is so clear and loud.
By the end of the statement that we gathered is brief but heavy, Waiguru and Solicitor General Njee Muturi will reportedly be persona non grata in Europe and America for their alleged involvement in corrupt practices.
Apart from Waiguru, Muturi is the other closest Uhuru confidante outside his family. Sources claim as the result of credible information that Waiguru and Muturi are either engaging in or benefitting from corruption, the US and the UK have found the two ineligible to enter their countries for being among the architects of the vice that has continued to destroy the fibre of the Jubilee government.
It has been discovered that Muturi is the one who has been protecting Waiguru from prosecution and is alleged to have advisedUhuru not to take action on Waiguru this far.
Muturi has since become increasingly powerful in the Uhuru administration and is fondly referred to as the AG while the AG is Githu Muigai. Muturi has actually been the one running the show at State Law Office and he has been involved in power struggle swith Muigai.
To show how powerful Muturi is, Kenyans will remember the Muigai-Muturi power struggle during the contentious Security Laws (Amendment) Bill where Muigai, the government’s chief legal adviser had been overshadowed by Muturi, his junior.
Sources familiar with the intrigues said Muturi played a key role in various meetings, including high profile ones with the president at State House, and in lobbying for the passage of the law.
The US is said to have also been concerned that it was on Muturi’s advice that the Jubilee administration made the controversial payments to Anglo Leasing amidst protests from Kenyans.
The expected travel ban on Waiguru and Muturi among other politicians is to expose Uhuru’s failure to fight corruption. During his visit, Barrack Obama hinted that America will issue more travel bans against corrupt prominent persons frustrating Kenya’s reform agenda.
To show how serious Obama takes corruption war in Kenya, he had signed anMoU with Kenyan government that the two countries were to work hand in hand in fighting corruption. He, however, put the Kenyan government to task over laxity in fighting corruption at top government offices.
“If someone in public office is taking a cut of what they don’t deserve, that’s taking away from those that deserve their fair share. The folks at the top who are taking from ordinary people need to be prosecuted,” Obama said during his visit to Kenya.
Sources say initially, America had planned to take immediate action on Waiguru but slowed down after realising that the National Youth funds are grants from China. However, he has now come out fighting corruption in the Devolution ministry due to the fact that the US is a major financier of most projects in the ministry.
Sources say it was Muturi who coerced the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission sleuths to grill Waiguru secretly in her house and not their offices. EACC wrote a report on NYS scandal which many were surprised to see delivered to Waiguru to act on. Muturi was instrumental in planning a coup at EACC to have favourable faces call the shots. Waiguru who has maintained that she is not resigning is always spotted in talks with power barons at Thyeme Restaurant along Peponi Road. She stays along Kihingo Road in the posh Gigiri area.
At Sheria House, Muturi has thrown her weight behind Waiguru and has been working overtime to influence the outcome of the investigations at EACC.
All eyes were on EACC after the Director of Public Prosecutions KeriakoTobiko trashed the CID investigation reports that exonerated Waiguru as hearsay. Sources claim the CID report seeks to shield Waiguru and Harakhe Waqo and put blame on Devolution PS Peter Mangiti and NYS director Nelson Githinji.
The move by Muturi to protect Waiguru has now split State House top officials with majority of Uhuru’s allies insisting that she must step aside. Those insisting that Waiguru must step aside say if she does not, this will give the Uhuru hard time during the 2017 general election campaigns. It is said that Cord leader Raila Odinga has told Cord legislators to go slow on their calls to Uhuru to sack Waiguru so that she continues doing Raila’s campaigns with the harm she is doing Uhuru.
The mystery to all but Uhuru and Waiguru is why Uhuru seems ready to sacrifice his seat. What probable benefit to Uhuru does she have as to warrant such protection, is the question Kenyans are asking, which is raising all sorts of speculations as Kenyans are wont to.
Should the US and the UK slap a ban on Waiguru and Muturi, it will not be the first time a Kenyan minister is slapped with a travel ban.
Immediately after the post-election violence, the US issued travel ban on a cabinet minister through its envoy, Michael Ranneberger.
The UK, on its part had also at one time issued a travel ban on then minister David Mwiraria.
Another high profile government official who at one time had been banned from visiting the US is former AG Amos Wako who is now the Busia senator.
The most recent visa ban was that of Uhuru’s chief of security who was denied a visa to travel to Belgium, which threatened a major diplomatic row between Kenya and the European Union. Edward Mbugua was the commandant of the presidential escort.
Two months ago, Waiguru accompanied Uhuru to the UN meeting in New York.
Citizen
