Plan to impeach Devolution CS Anne Waiguru splits Jubilee alliance

The planned motion to impeach Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru over the National Youth Service (NYS) scandal has sharply split the ruling Jubilee coalition leaders in Rift Valley.

Some MPs from Deputy President William Ruto's United Republican Party (URP) have backed the motion being lobbied by Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter.

MPs Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), William Kisang (Marakwet West), Silas Tiren (Moiben), Kangogo Bowen (Marakwet East), Ronald Tonui (Bomet Central), Bernard Bett (Bomet East) and Jackson Kiptanui (Keiyo South) insisted Waiguru should step aside to pave way for investigations.

But a section of lawmakers from the region have vowed to shoot down the motion.

MPs Moitalel Kenta (Narok North), David Gikaria (Nakuru Town East), Nderitu Mathenge (Gilgil) and Samuel Arama (ODM) rejected the attempt to impeach the CS, arguing it lacked basis.

Meanwhile, top URP leaders including Kericho Senator Charles Keter are expected to give the party's position today in a comprehensive statement on the twin impeachment threats against Waiguru and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

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"We will issue a comprehensive statement on our position on the two impeachment motions. Some leaders in the coalition should not purport to speak for others," said Mr Keter.

Tonui and Bett further claimed Waiguru misled the National Assembly's Finance and Planning Committee on the loss of funds at NYS.

Yesterday, Bett said the Government should not apply double standards and demanded officials whose dockets were rocked by corruption claims to step aside.

However, Kenta said he was opposed to the planned impeachment motion because it is an act in futility.

Nakuru County TNA MPs said they would not support the motion, saying it lacks merit and is driven by malice.

Gikaria and Nderitu claimed the motion was misguided and was part of a wider scheme by CORD to hound the CS out of office.

Arama said Waiguru blew the whistle on corruption in her ministry and commended her for the NYS projects, which have been rolled out across the country.

Mathenge said most MPs are cautious about appending their signatures in support of the motion after a similar initiative by Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi last year came a cropper.

Reports by Silah Koskei, Karanja Njoroge and Charles Ngeno