Miguna’s controversial book likely to jolt PM’s campaign

“We are waiting to see if (Miguna) will simply scratch the surface, which so far appears to be the case, or whether he will get to the bone marrow,” Wamalwa says. The Saboti MP will be looking for details on the claims of corruption in the ‘Kazi Kwa Vijana’ and maize subsidy programmes. He adds there are no guarantees about how this will play out politically.

“We all know him for easily working his way out of such tough situations, including declaring he is mweupe kama pamba (as clean as wool),” he says.

An MP from Central Kenya, who declined to be named, says ODM is having a taste of what President Kibaki went through in 2006 at the hands of his former Ethics and Governance Permanent Secretary, John Githongo.

The PS leaked a dossier on his futile efforts to warn the president about the Anglo Leasing scandal shortly after resigning and fleeing into exile.

Remained silent

“As we tried to comprehend the matter, our friends were busy crying out for the hanging of President Kibaki’s Government of National Unity,” he said. “Now it is our time to hang them.”

Raila and ODM have remained silent over the book. This is uncharacteristic of the PM, who created structures in his party and campaign to deal with precisely such issues. Reached for comment, Joint Government Chief Whip, Jakoyo Midiwo, a relative of Raila, curtly replied that he did not wish to dignify Miguna’s “work of fiction” with a comment.

The Gem MP, who has been mentioned in the text as an influential member of Raila’s ‘Kitchen Cabinet’, said Miguna’s book will not feature in party level discussions.

“Even as an individual, I have nothing to comment or protest about,” he said. “We are going on, as usual, with our party and campaigns programmes.”But Youth and Sports minister, Dr Paul Otuoma, is angered not by the content of Miguna’s book but the fact that he actually wrote one.

“If someone opens up his private space out of respect or work proximity, then you must in turn respect that,” he says. “Anything to the contrary is childish and a breach of personal trust.”

Former Chief of Protocol in the PM’s office, Tony Gachoka, said it was wrong for former public officers to use privileged information to settle personal scores: “But given that Raila’s style of operation has been that of crushing enemies and ridiculing them publicly, I can only say that Miguna is a very good student of his boss. He (Raila) is getting a taste of his own medicine.”