Tame your cronies to safeguard 2022 bid, Ngilu tells Kalonzo

Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu has put Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka on notice, saying his cronies will spoil his political career if they are not tamed.

Ngilu said some Wiper politicians, including MCAs from her county, are dishonest and want to use Kalonzo’s influence to frustrate her.

Speaking during Jamhuri Day Celebrations at Kanyaa Primary School in Mwingi West, the governor accused the MCAs of trying to derail her development agenda.

“I want to state here that Kalonzo is being fought from within by his friends. If he does not watch carefully, he will be brought down and his political career ruined,” Ngilu said.

Ngilu asked Kalonzo to tame his 'antagonising party brigade' against witch-hunt and a malicious campaign aimed at denting her five-pillar development plan.

The development policy focuses on water and food security, quality healthcare, education and youth, women empowerment and wealth creation.

She told the audience that included County Commissioner Samuel Kimiti and Mwingi West MP Charles Ngula (Wiper) that her problems with the majority Wiper MCAs resulted from the fact that she was not a member of their party and their feeling uneasy working with her.

The governor said the MCAs are practising partisan politics in the assembly and have conspired to block her memorandum on legislation, including the supplementary budget scheduled for Thursday.

“I want to declare that if the mistrust continues, I will retreat and seek other remedies. I will bypass the cynical MCAs and reach out directly to the electorate to tell them who is derailing development in their wards and constituencies,” Ngilu said.

However, the county chief warned she would not be cowed, intimidated or scared by the politicians.

She told Kalonzo’s allies to borrow a leaf from her Makueni counterpart Kivutha Kibwana who was fought by MCAs but won the battle.

Warning that she was getting impatient with the lawmakers, Ngilu told the MCAs that they are not doing her any favours by approving budgetary allocations.

The governor told the politicians that prioritising the funds would ensure the county’s development agenda is implemented.