Deputy President William Ruto urges leaders to embrace dialogue to end county wrangles

Deputy President William Ruto, Muranga Governor Mwangi Wa Iria, Senator Kembi and Gatanga MP Humprery Njuguna during PCEA Kihumbu-ini Parish Centinnial Celebrations in Muranga County.

Deputy President William Ruto yesterday waded into the leadership wrangles that have bedevilled Murang’a County following the failed impeachment of Governor Mwangi wa Iria.

Mr Ruto, who was in the region yesterday for a church service, pleaded with leaders to embrace dialogue as a solution to challenges facing the county.

Deputy Governor Gakure Monyo’s office was demolished last week in what the county government said was renovation.

The governor has blamed his deputy and other politicians of being behind his ouster bid.

The county assembly has promised to impeach Wa Iria a second time after the Senate threw out its first attempt.

But speaking at the Kihumbuini PCEA Church in Gatanga during celebrations to mark 100 years, Ruto said challenges facing the national and county governments presently can only be resolved through dialogue.

Current crisis

The DP said he was concerned with the current crisis and called on all elected leaders in the region to have a round-table to seek solutions.

“Leaders should work together and demonstrate unity and shun the culture of undermining one another,” said Ruto as he stressed the need for accountability in public service.

Kenyans, he said, supported devolution after it was identified as a mechanism that would ensure effective management of public resources.

“Murang’a governor, your people are demanding for transparency in service delivery,” said Ruto.

The governor dispelled claims of disunity in the county.

“I am happy to report to you that leaders are united and fully concentrating on effective service delivery, focusing on rehabilitation of roads and water distribution, among others,” said Wa Iria.

Earlier, Murang’a MP Sabina Wanjiru Chege had called on the DP to convene a meeting for elected leaders in the county to help look for a lasting solution to the current crisis.

“Mr Deputy President, you should flex your muscle and summon the governor, his deputy, senator, MPs and the MCAs for a round table as things are getting worse,” said Ms Chege.

The deputy governor, who has broken ranks with Iria, called for unity and expressed willingness to resolve the crisis.

Mathioya MP Clement Wambugu said it was disheartening to learn that threats of impeaching governors had swept through the counties of Murang’a, Kiambu, Nyeri, Kirinyaga and Nyandarua.

Ruto further told off some civil society groups that were undermining the country by claiming that the Government was unable to fight corruption.

foreign masters

Ruto claimed the groups were in the payroll of foreign masters with a mission to spread falsehoods against the country.

He said some leaders were among individuals from the civil society, who were maligning Kenya’s security forces.

“These are busybodies who have nothing else to do. They spend all their time loitering from one street to another with the interest of spreading falsehoods against Kenya,” said Ruto.

The Kenyan forces in Somalia, he said, feel disheartened by such claims since they have sacrificed a lot to fight terrorists and protect the lives of innocent citizens.

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), he said, had international reputation and should not be accused of being part of corruption.

He said the Jubilee Government was focused on its national transformation agenda and would not be derailed by Opposition leaders, who he said were bent on sowing seeds of conflict.

“The Government has an agenda to unify all the tribes... There is an elaborate programme to ensure all parts of the country achieve development to promote wealth creation and employment,” said Ruto.

Other leaders present included Wa Iria, Senate Deputy Speaker Kembi Gitura, MPs Alice Wahome (Kandara), Clement Wambugu (Mathioya), Humprey Njuguna (Gatanga) and Sabina Chege (Murang’a).