Kirinyaga Governor, Anne Waiguru, and Thirdway Alliance Leader, Ekuru Aukot, on Tuesday evening, exchanged nasty comments on Twitter after they disagreed over the Punguza Mzigo Bill.
The online fight started when Waiguru tweeted that the County Assembly of Kirinyaga had, on Tuesday, thrown out the Punguza Mzigo Bill and that the county remains firmly in the handshake.
The governor affirmed the county’s support for the Building Bridges Initiatives, which she stated stands for cohesion and unity in the country.
The County Assembly of Kirinyaga has today thrown out the Punguza Mizigo Bill. Kirinyaga County remains firmly in support of HE Uhuru Kenyatta, the handshake, BBI & stands for cohesion and unity in the country. #KirinyagaRising
— Anne Waiguru (@AnneWaiguru) September 10, 2019
However, in a rejoinder to Waiguru, Aukot announced that the party had spoken to some Kirinyaga MCAs and the Speaker, who confirmed to him that the bill was never tabled and so no public participation took place.
“Your excitement is misplaced. What’s embarrassing is how people like you with all the integrity questions finds yourself into leadership. The bill was never tabled for debate and there was no way it could have been rejected. Mambo bado,” he posted.
He told the governor that the bill would be forcefully debated on the floors of Kirinyaga County Assembly.
Waiguru replied that the Bill was thrown out on the basis of Law and Standing Orders of Kirinyanga County Assembly and termed it an “unfortunate embarrassment”.
Fortunately for Kenya, we run on the basis of law not on @EAukot directives. The Bill was thrown out on the basis of the Law and Standing Orders of the Kirinyaga County Assembly. Period. Even on its merits this Bill is in any event an unfortunate embarrassment
— Anne Waiguru (@AnneWaiguru) September 10, 2019
It is then that Aukot responded that the governor was afraid of the amendments relating to theft of public money and enforcement of integrity among state officers.
Waiguru then asked the Thirdway Way Alliance leader to focus on his “defective bill and stop tired sideshows”.
She said that the bill was being funded by the ghosts of the NYS scam.
@EAukot focus on your defective bill& stop tired sideshows.We all know who the creators& ghosts of NYSscam were;they fund & feast with you. FYI on corruption,some of us remember the COE massive financial irregularities,we read the rpts you cant fool people all the time.@CpaWaweru
— Anne Waiguru (@AnneWaiguru) September 10, 2019
Kirinyaga County Assembly becomes the second one to reject the Punguza Migizo bill after Siaya County Assembly.
On the other hand, Uasin Gishu became the first assembly to pass the Thirdway Alliance-fronted bill.
Uasin Gishu Assembly Majority Leader, Josphat Lowoi, divulged that the Bill would support development in the country by making wards accelerated units of development.
Apart from introducing a one-term 7-year presidency, the bill also seeks to reduce the size of Parliament from 416 to 147, and convert the existing 47 counties into units for election to the Senate and National Assembly.
It also seeks to address gender inequality in representation and ensure Kenyans elect one man and one woman from each of the 47 counties into the National Assembly.