Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has responded to renewed criticism over the National Youth Service (NYS) corruption scandal, accusing those who continue to raise the matter of attempting to damage her reputation years after it emerged. Waiguru argued that the controversy should not continue to overshadow her leadership record, noting that individuals implicated in the scandal had faced prosecution. The governor questioned why her critics continued to revisit the issue instead of focusing on other matters, suggesting that the allegations were being used to discredit her politically.
Everybody has got a stain. You know the true story about NYS, you know who was involved. They have prosecuted the people who were involved
Governor Waiguru She further argued that those bringing up the scandal were seeking to undermine her reputation because they lacked other issues to use against her.
Waiguru Defends Her Political Record
In defending her leadership, Waiguru pointed to her electoral victories as evidence of the confidence voters have placed in her. She highlighted her election as Kirinyaga governor in 2017 and her subsequent re-election in 2022, maintaining that her political achievements should also be considered when assessing her record.
Waiguru described her re-election as a significant milestone, noting that she became the first woman governor to secure a second term. Her remarks come amid continued public debate over the NYS scandal and its impact on the country’s fight against corruption.
Background of the NYS Corruption Scandal
The NYS scandal involved the loss and alleged misappropriation of public funds at the National Youth Service, attracting nationwide attention and prompting investigations and prosecutions. The controversy emerged during Waiguru’s tenure as Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning, when she was at the centre of public scrutiny over the ministry’s handling of the matter.
Estimates of the funds involved varied, with figures ranging from approximately KSh791 million to KSh1.8 billion cited in connection with the scandal and related claims. Waiguru later resigned from her Cabinet position in 2015 amid mounting pressure surrounding the controversy.
She subsequently entered elective politics, winning the Kirinyaga gubernatorial seat in 2017 before securing a second term in the 2022 General Election. Her latest comments signal her determination to defend her political legacy against criticism linked to the scandal, arguing that her record in office should be assessed beyond allegations that have followed her for years.
