ODM leader Raila Odinga has denied meeting embattled Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru over her impeachment motion.
In a statement on Sunday, Raila said a story by the Sunday Nation reporting that he met Waiguru at an exclusive club in Karen, Nairobi, is false.
“No such meeting with Ms. Waiguru or the other governors, James Nyoro of Kiambu and Mutahi Kahiga of Nyeri took place as reported in the Sunday Nation,” Raila said.
“I also wish to make it clear that there does not exist any Senate Committee to investigate Governor Waiguru and whose members from ODM I have instructed to save the governor as reported in the Nation,” he added.
The Sunday Nation in its lead story said Raila met Waiguru with the key agenda being whipping ODM and other “friendly” senators to defeat the motion.
Quoting unnamed sources, the Nation said Waiguru walked in the hotel a few minutes to 7pm accompanied by two aides.
“Then Kiambu Governor James Nyoro and his Nyeri counterpart Mutahi Kahiga joined her before Mr Odinga and a few of his trusted MPs arrived,” the Nation said.
He noted that matters in Waiguru’s impeachment are critical with regard to strengthening devolution and governance in Kenya.
“The require objective and deep reporting, based on verifiable facts, which is hard work, and not a collection of rumours and trivia from anonymous sources, which is the epitome of lazy journalism,” the former Prime Minister said.
According to the local daily, multiple sources had confirmed that the besieged governor had sought Raila’s help to rally his troops to shoot down the impeachment motion in the Senate.
Waiguru is one of the leading proponents of the handshake and the Building Bridges Initiative.
WAIGURU IMPEACHED
On June 8, Kirinyaga County Assembly voted to impeach Governor Anne Waiguru ,with 23 ward representatives supporting the motion anchored on violation of the Constitution, abuse of office and gross misconduct. The MCAs have accused Waiguru of deliberately failing to submit county plans and policies to the County Assembly for approval.
The impeachment motion was tabled in the Assembly on March 31 by Mutira MCA David Wangui.
Following the impeachment, Waiguru moved to court citing contempt of court as he had earlier attempted to stop the removal proceeding.
High Court judge Weldon Korir dismissed the case, noting that the MCAs were satisfied that the Covid-19 pandemic had been contained in the county and they were free to proceed with the impeachment motion without seeking the authority of the court.
“I have carefully looked at the pleadings of the parties and oral submissions its clear to me that the respondents did not violate the orders issued by this court on April 7 when impeaching the petitioner,” the judge said on Thursday.
According to the court, the order halting the impeachment motion was only granted because of issues raised that were related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In the circumstances I do not find any merits in the motion dated June 9, 2020. The application in hereby dismissed with costs to respondents,” the Judge added.
