Governor William Kabogo to snub security committee summon

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo speaking in Kiambu town flanked by Deputy governor Gerald Githinji and County Executive in-charge of roads Njeri Gatabaki. PHOTO BY KAMAU MAICHUHIE

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo has said he will not honor summons by a parliamentary committee over claims has sponsored a private militia and influenced police in his county to intimidate and harass MPs.

Speaking in Kiambu town when he launched four firefighting engines donated by World Bank, Kabogo said he will not avail himself before the Administration and National Security Committee chaired by Tiaty MP Asman Kamama since he did not have time to waste.

He denied of having a militia at his disposal saying he did not need to have one since as far as he knew he had the good will of the people on the ground.

"What the committee is doing is abusing the privileges of parliament. They are just wasting public funds through unnecessary sittings. Even if i had the militia, do they think I would go and admit i had one. In fact, I am yet to receive any official invitation," said Kabogo.

The parliamentary committee early this week resolved to summon the Governor together with the various heads of security agencies to respond to allegations made by leaders and wananchi from Kiambu.

The allegations were sent to the National Assembly through a petition presented by Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungw'a, who is among lawmakers from the county who do not see eye to eye with the governor.

Ichungw'a who was in a convoy together with Kiambu Town MP Jude Njomo were early this year stoned by goons outside the county headquarters in Kiambu town as police watched helplessly on their way to the home of blogger Mburu Waime in Ndumberi.

The MPs reported the matter at the Kiambu Police Station and were booked in the occurrence book number 52/27/1/2016.

Mr Kimani highlighted various incidents during which, he said, armed militias backed by police and Kiambu County government employees, clashed with MPs and their supporters.

MPs in the committee warned about the possibility politically-instigated violence in the run-up to the General Elections.

The governor told those saying he had a militia to go and report him to the police so that an appropriate action can be taken against him.

"Those trying to pressure me should know that I'm the one person who cannot be intimidated easily. You would need a lot of effort and energy and time to do that.I will not go since i do not think they have the capacity to intimidate me," he said.

The committee noted that with governors having more money at their disposal than the police, they said, this has given the county bosses influence over security agencies, which in some cases often lack money for basic items such as fuel for their vehicles.

This, the MPs said, has been noted in Kiambu, Murang'a, Turkana, Mombasa and Malindi counties which they said should not be allowed to continue.

Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho while speaking on Wednesday in Kiambu town said the government had received information that some politicians in the county were recruiting youth in to a militia to use it in the run-up to the next general elections.

He warned the youth against accepting to be recruited in to the militia by the politicians saying that would be tantamount in engaging in a criminal activity that would attract the full wrath of the law.

"The government will be on the lookout. The law will be applied fully to ensure there is no militia here in Kiambu and any other part of the country.