In a surprising move that has caught Kenyans off guard,Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has withdrawn a defamation suit she had filed against Opposition leader Raila Odinga for linking her to the Ksh 791 million National Youth Service (NYS) Season I scandal.
Waiguru made the announcement on Twitter after meeting Raila, saying she opted not to pursue the matter in the spirit of cohesion and reconciliation.
Just had a meeting with former Prime Minister H.E Right Honorable @RailaOdinga on the outstanding matter in court.
In the spirit of cohesion and reconciliation in the country, the matter stands settled. pic.twitter.com/m8481UUtDh
— Anne Waiguru (@AnneWaiguru) November 14, 2018
Waiguru said that during their meeting, they also deliberated on matters of devolution, adding that Raila confirmed and affirmed his support for it going forward.
Philip commended the move on twitter acknowledging that the two were going in the right direction and Raila should even visit Kirinyaga soon.
Kenya is moving in the right direction generally, forgiveness is key to one spirit for development in our country. I hope he promised to visit kirinyaga County soon
— Philip (@kiprotichphil) November 14, 2018
Waiguru had sued Raila demanding that he produces evidence linking her to the scandal, saying his sustained campaign against her led to her decision to quit as Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary.
“When Raila stood up in Kibera and said that I had stolen Ksh 1 billion NYS money he must have evidence. Why he has not come before the court to produce that evidence is what I cannot understand. I insist he defamed me and what will stop him from coming to the dock to apologize to me is by becoming President and he is not going to become,” Waiguru told Citizen TV’ JKL programme last year.
An attempt by Raila seeking Waiguru to declare her assets was thrown out by High Court judge Joseph Sergon.
Other Kenyans on twitter have however lamented that the NYS scandal has now disappeared without kenyans being told where the money went and now the mwananchi is the loser in the handshake.
This means you admit @RailaOdinga was right and what he said was nothing less than the truth. Now settle the matter with taxpayers too by refunding.
— Person of Meru (@MugiiraJob) November 14, 2018
Luckily for us, it’s not down to Odinga as to when and how we recover our monies…
— REBB (@RBryan275) November 14, 2018
Hio pesa tuseme ilikunywa maji
— Jnr?? (@TimeTell2) November 14, 2018
Some have also insinuated Waiguru is simply using the handshake to clense herself of the embezzlement charges.
Kama unajua, unajua ? pic.twitter.com/8FxtNM5tRW
— FearPhillious (@FPhillious) November 14, 2018
The former PM has closed ranks with several Jubilee leaders since the March 9 Handshake agreement with President Uhuru Kenyatta, which birthed the Building Bridges Initiative.