MPs, Kiambu governor Kabogo united as DP Ruto visits

Political leaders in Kiambu shelved their differences and exhibited a rare show of unity when Deputy President William Ruto visited the county.

Governor William Kabogo, Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa and his Thika town counterpart Alice Ng’ang’a, for the first time in a long time, seemed to be reading from the same script when Mr Ruto came calling in Kikuyu constituency on Sunday.

Apart from Lari MP Mburu Kahangara who deviated for a while, praising Mr Ichung’wa as a firm leader who spoke his mind even when he was called a ‘test tube politician’, all the other MPs stayed away from counter-attacks.

There has been bad blood between the local leaders since the governor assumed power and moved his office to Thika town.

The MPs have been on Mr Kabogo’s case, urging him to relocate to Kiambu town, which is the gazetted headquarters, but the governor has remained adamant that he will only move to Kiambu when renovation of the former Kiambu Municipal Chambers is complete.

But on Sunday, all the leaders, who included Kabogo, Ichungwa, Ms Ng’ang’a, Limuru’s John Kiragu, Kiambu town’s Jude Njomo and Lari’s Mburu Kahangara shelved their differences as they called for unity among the county leaders.

Good governor

Ichung’wa, who was the host, introduced Kabogo as “our good governor” and invited him to speak and welcome Ruto to address the congregation after all the others leaders had spoken.

When Kabogo rose, he focused on urging the Church to pray for the nation and also advised the flock not to be swindled by people out to make money from unsuspecting Christians in the name of miracles.

“The Church should advise the congregation always. We have people taking advantage and pretending to perform miracles. This is very wrong,” said Kabogo.

He was referring to a recent television expose by KTN of self-proclaimed ‘Prophet’ Victor Kanyari’s ‘miracles’ in exchange for ‘seed money’.

In the afternoon, they all had lunch at Ichung’was home in Gikambura.

Meanwhile, Ngewa Ward Rep Karungo wa Thang’wa has asked Kabogo to apologise over alleged defamatory remarks he made against him. The ward rep has threatened to sue for defamation if the apology is not forthcoming.

On Wednesday last week, Kabogo is alleged to have said Mr Thang’wa was being funded to force him to move to Kiambu town.

Mr Thang’wa said he had already instructed his lawyer to write to Kabogo to apologise.