Jubilee SG Tuju letter escalates Kirinyaga wrangles
Githinji Mwangi
The war pitting Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) escalated yesterday after Jubilee secretary general Raphael Tuju warned Majority Leader Kamau Murango of dire consequences for defying the party.
Murango, who was de-whipped from the position two months ago, has not only been spear-heading efforts to impeach Waiguru but also on Wednesday led a campaign that saw the governor’s budget rejected by the Assembly.
In shooting down the estimates, MCAs pointed that they were opposed to Waiguru’ demand for Sh90 million for office furniture which they said was allocated to ward projects.
It is after the budget rejection that Tuju is said to have fired the warning letter to Murango, sparking protests from MCAs who accuse him of frustrating their efforts to fight corruption and interfering with Kirinyaga county affairs in a manner defensive of the governor.
The Juju letter was copied to Waiguru and county Jubilee party branch chairman Muriithi Kangara.
“As majority leader, you have defied, snubbed, failed and disregarded the party position on several directives affecting the conduct of majority party affairs,” read the letter.
Tuju said Murango’s “open defiance” of party directive was a gross violation of articles 13 and 16 of the Jubilee Party constitution and code of conduct. Tuju gave Murango seven days to explain why he should not face disciplinary action.
But Kirinyaga Senator Charles Kibiru swiftly dismissed the letter terming it an affront on the independence of the county assembly.
“The role of the county assembly on matters oversight can never be over emphasized and neither party or anybody should interfere with it through intimidation,” said the Senator.
Kibiru insisted that Tuju’s move was unacceptable.
“I implore the County government and specifically the Governor to show leadership in solving the issues raised by the County Assembly on the budgetary issues and nomination of county service board.”
Waiguru is facing an impeachment motion tabled by a section of MCAs who accuse her of corruption. Waiguru has, however, dismissed the claims saying the Ward Reps were being used by powerful forces keen to have her removed from the seat.
But by seeking to punish Murango is seen as protecting the governor from possible impeachment.
The governor’s problem deepened yesterday after the Assembly adopted a report proposing the impeachment of Waiguru’s Finance Executive Moses Migui and the Roads chief officer John Makumi prepared by respective committees. The two are key allies of the governor.
