Ann Waiguru was accused of participating in the looting of 791 Million Kenya Shillings in September 2015. The money went missing from National Youth Service (NYS), a department in the Ministry she headed. This is her most famous looting drama of Anne Waiguru that has unfortunately affected both her and a lot of her political endeavours. Anne Waiguru’s charges were dropped by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission due to lack of believable evidence to tie her to the allegations.
Political Influence
As many Kenyans would agree, politics and money affect almost all aspects of justice in the country. In the case of the NYS scandal, Ann Waiguru and President Kenyatta’s friendship is believed to have had a role to play in her charges being dropped. Some political leaders claimed that the president was biased in nominated her as the Cabinet Secretary of the Minister of Devolution and Planning in 2013. Additionally, Ms. Waiguru proceeded to seek and was voted in as the Governor of Kirinyaga County with a Jubilee Party ticket in 2017.
Her take
In an interview in the United Kingdom on devolution, Ms. Anne Waiguru said the reason for Kenyan politicians looting is because of family expectations and social pressures. After she was cleared of NYS 791 Million shillings looting charges, by Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC), she said it was an embarrassment for politicians who had made political capital from her unfortunate situation.
Anne Waiguru’s Impeachment
On 9, June 2020, Anne Waiguru was impeached by Members of the County Assembly of Kirinyaga County. The impeachment was based on the allegations of irregular trip allowances she was paid for trips she never took. Following her impeachment, a special committee was set up to discuss the allegations against Ms. Waiguru. On 26, June 2020, Ms. Waiguru was exonerated by the Senate house Committee and returned to office as the Governor of Kirinyaga County. This is the third time the Governor, one of only three female Governors in Kenya, has been acquitted of looting charges.
Corruption and Integrity System
Observers claim that Anne Waiguru’s support for the “hand-shake” between opposition leader Mr. Raila Odinga and the President has a role to play in her political conduct. “Transitional economies like Kenya exhibit the identical challenges of weak accountability structures and ineffective institutions resulting in waste and loss of public funds and resources,” says Ms. Waiguru in an interview about devolution. She claims that she was used as a pawn in the first NYS scandal and that this explains why 3 years later, the same department was involved in a ten times larger scandal of 10 Billion shillings.
Even though Ms. Ann Waiguru has been accused several times, she keeps getting cleared of the charges. Due to claims of political interference in her case rulings, observers can’t help but wonder whether she was acquitted because she was innocent or another case of politicians interfering with the justice system.
