Anne Waiguru is a non-performer, Martha Karua tells voters
President Uhuru Kenyatta with Kirinyaga gubernatorial candidates Anne Waiguru (left) and Martha Karua. Ms Karua has put Ms Waiguru on the spot over the National Youth Service scandal. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Ms Karua challenged Ms Waiguru to take responsibility and stop defending herself.
- Ms Karua also promised to reform the health and agriculture sectors and asked the residents to turn up in large numbers during the polls and vote wisely.
Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua has hit out at former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru, accusing her of failing to prevent corruption at the National Youth Service (NYS).
She dismissed Ms Waiguru, who is her competitor for Kirinyaga governorship seat, as a non-performer and told the residents to reject her during the August 8 polls.
While campaigning at Ciagiini village in the vote-rich Mwea sub-county, Ms Karua said the governor’s seat required a competent leader.
CORRUPT OFFICIALS
“Ms Waiguru failed to tame corrupt officials in the NYS when she was a Cabinet secretary and that is why more than Sh1 billion was looted. She does not deserve to be elected the governor,” she said.
The former Justice minister, who was accompanied by her running mate Gachoki Gitari, said if Ms Waiguru was competent and keen the money would not have been looted.
“Residents should not dare entrust the region’s resources to a leader whose ministry was riddled with corruption,” she told residents.
Ms Karua challenged Ms Waiguru to take responsibility and stop defending herself.
BEST LEADER
The Narc-Kenya boss described herself as the best leader to take over the county’s leadership.
“When I was the Gichugu MP for 20 years and as a minister in the Kibaki administration for seven years, I delivered quality services. I also fought corruption and initiated many development projects,” she said.
“If I become the governor, I will ensure that all resources will be equitably distributed.”
Ms Karua also promised to reform the health and agriculture sectors and asked the residents to turn up in large numbers during the polls and vote wisely.
VIOLENCE
And Mr Gitari asked youths not to be used to cause violence during the elections.
“We want the polls to be peaceful and the youth supporting various politicians should not agree to fight,” he said.
Mr Gitari, who is also the Kirinyaga Central MP, said he and Ms Karua embraced peaceful campaigns.
“We are conducting mature campaigns free of violence because we want the region to have peace,” said Mr Gitari.
