Waiguru is President Uhurus protectorate CORD leader Raila Odinga

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader, Raila Odinga, has accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of shielding former Devolution Cabinet Secretary, Anne Waiguru, in the National Youth Service (NYS) scam where the country lost Ksh 1.6 billion through dubious dealings.

Odinga questioned the government’s silence on Waiguru despite other top devolution Ministry officials being charged with economic-related crimes saying that the government has been manipulating graft cases touching on people closer to the President.

“The case of the NYS clearly demonstrates the manipulation and the game of favorites Jubilee is playing with corruption while accusing the opposition of doing nothing,” read Odinga’s statement in part.

“As the government claims to be finally cracking open the case, the silence on Ms Anne Waiguru, the former CS at the centre of this scam is loud.”

He also accused the government of keeping mum in cases where allies of Deputy President William Ruto have been mentioned.

“Equally loud is the silence on aides and associates of the Deputy President who have been linked to the NYS scam by evidence indicating they received money from the other suspects in the scam.”

Odinga alleges that Waiguru is being protected by Head of State.

“The protection Ms Waiguru is enjoying clearly demonstrates that the NYS scam is President Uhuru Kenyatta’s scam and its chief architect Anne Waiguru is his protectorate,” added Odinga.

“Kenyans ought to be reminded that right from the start, President Uhuru Kenyatta issued statements from State House declaring Ms Waiguru clean even before any investigations were done.”

“The President went ahead to mobilize the URP wing of the coalition to in a bid to have full government support for Ms Ann Waiguru. That worked until Ms. Waiguru began selectively releasing dossier implicating the URP brigade led by William Ruto in the NYS scandal and protecting the TNA brigade that is also implicated in the scandal.”

The opposition chief says that Waiguru continues enjoying State House protection despite leaders, including DP Ruto, calling for her prosecution.

“Everyone at the Ministry of Devolution and the National Youth Service whose name has ever been mentioned in the scandal has been charged, all expect Waiguru,” Odinga added, making reference to the charging of former Devolution Principal Secretary, Eng Peter Mangiti, ex-NYS Finance Director Samuel Wachenje, ex-NYS Deputy Director General Adan Harakhe, ex-Ministerial Tender Committee Chairman, Hassan Noor, and 20 others on Friday, November 25 and Monday, November 28.

“The only logical explanation for this selective prosecution is that Ms Waiguru is a ‘Kenyatta protectorate’ whom the president is keen to retain even at the expense of coalition partners URP.”

Odinga has now called on URP to seek answers about Waiguru from Uhuru and leave CORD out of it.

“The Jubilee administration must collectively realize it is in charge of the country and solely bears responsibility for fighting all vices crippling that nation, including corruption, unless it has surrendered this role to opposition.”

Raila’s statement comes amid claims that he has been silent on corruption touching on CORD governors in the counties.

In his tour of Coast last week, DP Ruto and National Assembly Majority Leader, Aden Duale, called on Raila to take responsibility over the loss of Ksh 51 million in Kilifi County governed by ODM’s Amason Kingi.

The ODM leader has, however, refuted these claims saying corruption against CORD leaders are untrue, while calling on the government to act if there is evidence.

“With all the power of manipulation that we have seen Jubilee exercise over these agencies, how come they are not taking any action against the alleged corrupt people in CORD?

“What stops Jubilee from presenting evidence and arresting CORD leaders engaged in corruption?” he questioned.

Raila, in his address last week claimed that Kingi was a whistleblower in the saga noting that his swift action led to the recovery of Ksh8 million.

Meanwhile, Kingi, accompanied by Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and Siaya Senator James Orengo, appeared before the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Monday over the Kilifi scandal.

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CORD raila odinga JUBILEE odm ANNE WAIGURU william ruto

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