Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru on Wednesday night opened a Pandoras Box when she dragged the name of retired President Daniel Moi in an interview where she was responding to Ipsos opinion poll that ranked her the second most corrupt individual in Kenya.
Waiguru, who appeared very determined to defend herself in the matter, questioned the parameters used to measure how 'corrupt' she was.
"How were they measuring it? Was it in terms of litres? What were they using? Corruption is an issue of integrity. It is either you are corrupt or not corrupt. Ipsos will have to defend the parameters in court," she said.
The former Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary wondered how she was ranked higher than Mzee Moi, who was at position three with only 17 percent of those surveyed opining that he was a corrupt leader.
"The poll even ranked me above the former President Daniel Moi who ruled this country for 24 years. How ridiculous can it get? Everybody knows what we think about the Moi era. Are you saying that I stole more than Moi so that you can make me more corrupt?" she posed.
Also Read: Waiguru tough response after she was ranked second most corrupt leader in Ipsos poll
Her comment insinuating that Moi was a thief, elicited an array reaction on social media. A section opined that the explanation only affirmed that she was guilty of stealing but only not as much as President Moi.
Lawyer Paul Miute commented: "What an argument Governor; admission;"I stole but not as much as retired President Moi."
Others applauded her for being very confident in defending herself.
Here are other reactions:
Ms. Waiguru insisted that the survey was a political witch hunt meant to tarnish her name.
"We believe that the poll was paid for by our opponents or somebody who wanted to use it for their own purpose," she said.
She went on to discredit the credibility of the poll noting that it was neither scientific nor objective.
“There is no way of measuring corruption,” she said.