Waiguru makes demands to MPs before giving evidence on Sh1.8b NYS scam
Former Devolution Cabinet Minister Anne Waiguru on Thursday commenced her testimony by asking members of the Public Accounts Committee for assurances that it was not pursuing her and was only interested in the truth.
Ms Waiguru said that from watching live broadcasts of the committee’s proceedings, she had noticed that some members of the committee asked witnesses leading questions.
She cited questions put to Ben Gethi and Josephine Kabura when they met the committee.
SEEK ASSURANCE
“I seek your assurance before we proceed that this committee is guided by none other than its mandate to seek the truth under the law,” she said.
She said that even after Gethi said in a TV programme hosted by Jeff Koinange that he did not know her, he was pushed to state how they were linked.
Ms Waiguru arrived early for the meeting accompanied by Pauline Kamau, her secretary, and a bodyguard. The size of her delegations at previous meetings were larger.
Clad in a blue and white dress and formal black shoes, she also carried a large black briefcase.
The meeting took some time to start, with PAC chairman Nicolas Gumbo taking time to have everybody in the room introduce themselves and then read two paragraphs from a book to set the tone.
MIND-BOGGLING THEFT
“What seems to have happened is simply mind-boggling theft of funds and what baffles is how calmly and mindlessly it was done,” said Mr Gumbo.
He did not take Ms Waiguru’s comments well and described them as a pre-emptive attempt to gag and intimidate members of the committee.
Other PAC members, Timothy Bosire, Fathia Mahbub and Kanini Kega also did not take her comments well.
Among MPs who are not members of PAC who are also attending the hearing are Stephen Kariuki of Mathare, Alfred Keter of Nandi Hills, Lati Lelelit of Samburu West, Abdikadir Ore of Wajir West and Peter Kaluma of Homa Bay Town, Simba Arati of Dagoretti North and Shakeel Shabir of Kisumu East.
