Forces within government behind my EACC woes – Wa Iria

Former Murang’a governor Mwangi wa Iria has accused forces within the government of being behind his latest woes with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

While distancing President William Ruto from the issue, Wa Iria said some leaders inside the government who are positioning themselves to be the Mt Kenya kingpin are using the Commission in an attempt to suppress his bid for the position.

"This is witch hunt. They want to soil my name and the work I accomplished in the 10 years I served as governor instead of focusing on implementing the promises they made to the people.

He said those contending for the kingship should come out and face off with him saying he will not be cowed.

"They used EACC to cleanse themselves of huge cases and now want to dump all the waste on me. I will not be intimidated. I'm no longer in office. If they want a fight, we will fight," Wa Iria said. 

On Thursday, Lady Justice Esther Maina issued orders freezing two properties belonging to his wife Jane in a case where the Commission is seeking to recover Sh542 million from the former governor.

One of the properties is located in Umoja, Nairobi while the second is located at Mweiga in Nyeri county, both worth Sh16,300,000.

Wa Iria wondered why the EACC was going after him yet graft cases worth billions of shillings against some individuals were withdrawn recently.

Early last month, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew a Sh7.5 billion graft case against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over lack of evidence.

The office also withdrew a corruption case against Public Service and Gender Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa who had been charged with illegally obtaining Sh19 million.

Wa Iria announced that in January, he will start the Usawa movement that will champion for the rights of Mt. Kenya residents.

Among the things it will lobby for is the streamlining of the coffee sector and the establishment of a minimum guaranteed price that will cushion farmers from losses.

This, Wa Iria said, was among the top things promised to locals during campaigns but not enough is being done to actualize it.

The former governor who sought to vie for the presidency in the August pols but got disqualified by IEBC also said he will lobby for the government to give parents a break from paying school fees owing to the hard economic times.

"We have been told that it will take about a year for the economy to recover. Parents are struggling to feed their children. I propose that the government should give parents a grace period to give them time to look for fees.”

He lauded the Ruto administration for implementing the Hustler Fund but noted that it will be counterproductive for the beneficiaries to pay levies.

Wa Iria proposed that county governments should stop imposing levies on small traders to give them room to grow.

He said he will rally his party members and supporters to come out and demand for these things in January, urging Kenyans to support his movement.