Kabogo, Waititu denied chance to speak at a function attended by President Uhuru

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo (right) speaking with Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu on Sunday when they met at St Andrew ACK Cathedral in Thika. The two leaders have been embroiled in political wrangles a thing President Uhuru Kenyatta recently attributed as his reason of snubbing visiting his home county. PHOTO BY KAMAU MAICHUHIE.

Feuding local leaders were denied a chance to speak during a church function attended by President Uhuru Kenyatta at the weekend.

Early this year, President Kenyatta said the infighting among political leaders from his home county was the reason why he rarely visited the region.

It is perhaps for this reason that nothing was left to chance during the visit by Uhuru to St Andrews ACK Cathedral in Thika for a church service and a fundraiser in aid of the church.

The President’s arrival was preceded by extensive lobbying from the host Bishop Julius Wanyoike to prevail on leaders to avoid engaging in any spat before the president.

The bad blood among the leaders was evident on Sunday as they avoided greeting each other or making eye contact.

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo was the first to arrive at the venue and positioned himself ready to receive the President.

Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu and his Thika Town counterpart Alice Ng’ang’a, who are sworn Kabogo enemies, arrived moments later and greeted everyone else in Uhuru’s welcoming line but ignored the governor.

brief chat

It is only Senator Kimani Wamatangi, Woman Representative Ann Nyokabi and Ruiru MP Esther Gathogo who greeted the governor.

The Kabete legislator later greeted the governor and had a brief chat.

Mr Waititu has already announced he will be challenging the governor come the 2017 elections while Ms Ng’ang’a has been one of Kabogo’s fiercest critics.

And perhaps sensing a looming showdown, Bishop Wanyoike called the governor, the senator and Thika Town MP for a crisis meeting perhaps to try and iron out any differences before the presidential function.

When Uhuru arrived, he held a short closed-door meeting with the leaders present.

A source at the meeting who requested anonymity said that it was agreed that in order to avoid a showdown, only the host MP, the senator and the governor were to address the congregation. However, they were cautioned against attacking each other.

In his speech, the president emphasised the need for leaders to work together and avoid divisive politics.

The president urged the political leaders present to work together saying wrangles would only cost the county much-needed development.

Mr Wamatangi supported the president’s sentiments saying there was need for the leaders to work together since that is what the people wanted.