Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua faces off with Nyeri ‘rebel’ ward reps

Nyeri County Governor Nderitu Gachagua (standing on right), addresses the members of county Assembly on April 28 2016,where only 15 out of 47 members attended. The governor is fighting tooth and nail to contain his surging political rivals. (PHOTO: KIBATA KIHU/ STANDARD)

Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua is fighting tooth and nail to contain his surging political rivals.

The governor, who has been away for treatment for four months, has declared war on his political detractors, among them MCAs who boycotted his State-of-the-County address two weeks ago.

“I will take them head on. We cannot allow a few people to want to control running of the county for their own selfish interests,” said Gachagua.

During the opening of the Karatina and Mweiga markets last week, the governor faced off with Karatina MCA Joel Gichuru as political temperatures rose over county affairs.

The governor accused Gichuru, who is also the county Deputy Speaker, of failing to support the county government’s development agenda, and instead joining hands with other MCAs to oppose him.

The public watched as the governor tore into the MCA. “I want to declare that I will be your MCA starting today. If you have anything that requires the attention of the MCA, bring it to me and I will handle it personally since the leader you elected has chosen to abdicate his roles,” said Gachagua, attracting cheers from the crowd.

But in swift rejoinder, Gichuru said he understood his roles as an MCA and does not need to be coached by the governor.

Gachagua proceeded to Mweiga town, where he tore into local MCA Mwaniki Kanyiri, who was absent. The governor accused the MCA of fighting him and failing to serve his people. He took issue with the fact that MCAs had given his recent assembly address a wide berth.

“When the governor addresses the County Assembly, he addresses the entire county through their representatives and since your MCA skipped the address, you should know that you do not have a representative,” he said.

Gachagua accuses the leaders of engaging in 2017 campaigns too early instead of serving the electorate.

“It seems like we are in an opposition zone since some elected leaders have started campaigning against us. You were elected by the people, you have not completed your term and you are still in a campaign mode,” he said.

He said some MCAs were concentrating on scheming to get contracts for their own gain.

Gachagua accused the MCAs of plotting to shoot down his government’s budget estimates once they are presented before the assembly.

“You should know that if you do not get the funds, it is your MCAs who shot the budget estimates down because they do not want you to benefit. These people are selfish and do not have their people at heart,” he said.

The governor has also fallen out with some MPs. Kieni MP Kanini Kega has accused him of stopping road projects in Kieni, a constituency that forms nearly half of Nyeri County.

However, the governor maintains the projects Kega speaks about are overrated.

In Karatina, a political contest erupted between supporters of Gachagua and Mathira MP Peter Weru over who among the two pushed for funding of a market project whose construction has stalled since it was commissioned in 2010.

Matters are worse at the county assembly. Only a handful of the 47 MCAs in Nyeri are in support of the governor. Impeccable sources claim the ward reps were angered by Gachagua’sfailure to aprove of the ward development fund.

Kirimukuyu MCA James Kibira accuses Gachagua of failing to implement projects earmarked for the 2015/16 budget, yet he is introducing another budget estimates for 2016/17.

“He pledged to construct eight kilometres of roads in every ward in the 2015/16 budget. It is unfortunate he is still talking about them one year later,” said Kibira.

The MCA said his colleagues would frustrate the governor until he gets out of his comfort zone.