Several prominent women leaders in the country have condemned the impeachment of Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru.
Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu was among the first women leaders to come out strongly against the impeachment of Governor Waiguru.
In a strongly-worded statement, Governor Ngilu, one of the few women in the country to have fiercely and fearlessly gunned for the presidency in the past, said “pull her down” syndrome machinations were being employed against the Kirinyaga County boss.
“The travesty visited upon Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru is one of the many crooked ways that PhD [pull her down] machinations are using to pull her down and we strongly condemn it. My sister Anne, take heart, hold your head high and continue serving the people of Kirinyaga. You will be vindicated,” said Ms. Ngilu.
Pull her down is a term used to explain the way in which too often women denigrate other women.
On Wednesday morning, the Public Service and Gender Cabinet Secretary, Prof Margaret Kobia, also strongly condemned Waiguru’s ouster.
“It is unfortunate that Governor Anne Waiguru’s term is being cut short by an alleged impeachment. This is an indicator that some of us do not value strong women leadership. We are disappointed that the Governor is being impeached during the fight against Covid-19 which is negatively impacting on social-economic development of the country,” said CS Kobia.
Yesterday, Ms. Waiguru was impeached by ward representatives in a drama-filled affair that had seen some of the MCAs sleep over at the assembly for fear they would be intimidated or persuaded to abandon their cause.
A total of 23 out of the assembly’s 33 MCAs voted to impeach the governor, a former Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary, over accusations of corruption, nepotism, and violation of procurement laws.
The planning and execution of the impeachment conducted with military precision, sparking fears that a powerful person was coordinating the affair.
In a statement released yesterday before the assembly voted, Ms. Waiguru claimed that a dark master was pulling the strings and the MCAs were only stooges.
Ms. Waiguru has previously accused Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho of being behind the impeachment, claims the powerful official has denied.
She said that she will not be cowed or bullied into submission.
During the voting, the MCAs cast their ballots according to the script, with 23 supporting the governor’s impeachment. Four MCAs abstained while six were absent.
Now the Senate will decide Waiguru’s fate.
