Kiambu governor Kimani Wamatangi is having sleepless nights after some area legislators joined MCAs in demanding for his ouster over poor performance. Kiambu senator Karungu wa Thang’wa and MPs Alice Ng’ang’a (Thika), Gathoni Wamuchomba (Githunguri), Gabriel Kagombe (Gatundu South) and Githua Wamacukuru (Kabete) are now accusing Wamatangi of inaction and inability to transform the county for the better.
Moses Kuria
Also said to be backing the governor’s impeachment is Trade cabinet secretary Moses Kuria. Last week, Wamatangi implicated Kuria in the attempt to impeach him. Word on the ground is that Wamatangi has fallen out with powerful figures in president William Ruto’s administration after he refused to allocate them part of the 1,400 acres of land the county received from Del Monte Company Ltd.
Among those rumoured to have demanded Del Monte land is National assembly majority leader who is also Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa. The governor is on record stating he wants to set up an Export Processing Zone on part of the land that fruit processor Del Monte Company Ltd ceded to the county. The fresh threat to impeach the governor comes months after deputy president Rigathi Gachagua met with Kiambu legislators to save Wamatangi from a planned impeachment. And now the MCAs are accusing the county chief of dictatorship, poor leadership, and an inability to oversee the county development.
The ward representatives accuse the governor of being a lone ranger, unable to work with other leaders, failing to include other important people in decision-making, and slow infrastructural developments at the Ward level. They also cite failure to fully constitute his government for effective service delivery one year after taking office. The MCAs, led by Githiga ward MCA Ruth Waithera, chastised Wamatangi for failing to submit the names of the chief officers for approval to the assembly, a move that has seen him collaborate with those from former governor James Nyoro’s administration. One of the key positions that has been vacant for months is that of county secretary, which has been vacant since Martin Njogu, the former CS, resigned months ago. Although he did not specify why he resigned, the MCAs claimed that a strained working relationship between him and the governor was no longer sustainable. Among those who have resigned during Wamatangi’s tenure includes Biabiane Waiganjo, a county executive committee member for education who resigned in April this year citing harsh, oppressive, and suppressive working conditions as the reason for leaving the county executive after only two months. Gibson Mburu, the county’s chief of staff, resigned later, as did county executive committee member in charge of roads Samuel Mugo and his chief officer Daniel Njenga. All of them have not been replaced since their resignation, which has irritated MCAs who accuse Wamatangi of running county affairs unilaterally.
Despite the gazettement of Juja, Kabete, Lari, Kahawa Sukari, Githunguri and Gatundu municipalities earlier this year, MCAs complained that the towns lack boards to run them, putting the county’s Sh1.8 billion from the World Bank under the Kenya Urban Support Programme in jeopardy.
The MCAs also fault the county boss for failing to formalise the engagement of his administration with casual workers whom they claim are irregularly fired after intense intimidation. The ward representatives allege that since he assumed office, the governor cannot illustrate the projects he has undertaken, save for the distribution of chicks and fertiliser to farmers. Karuri MCA Peter Wainaina accused the governor of sabotaging elected MCAs by using members of his Wamatangi Foundation as foot soldiers and replacing them in administrative mandates. Njoroge claimed only Sh400 million of the Sh4.88 billion set aside for development in the county in the previous fiscal year had been consumed as of April this year.
The assembly majority leader, Godfrey Mucheke who is Limuru’s Kalimoni ward representative and is believed to be Wamatangi’s point man has already been dethroned. But the governor has vowed he will not be cowed by the demands of corrupt people, claiming that the fights at the assembly are a plot by his political nemesis, who are opposed to his leadership style and political stature. Thang’wa is on record claiming the wrangles between the governor and MCA had attracted the attention of President Ruto and his deputy. The senator alleged that Ruto red the riot act to Wamatangi during a trip to Githurai after the governor collided with senior Kenya Kwanza officials.
The senator alleged that the president further ordered Wamatangi to familiarise himself with the Kenya Kwanza manifesto since he joined the party late in the leadup to the 2022 general election and did not have sufficient time to review it thoroughly. The head of state was roped into the wrangles after Gachagua and Thang’wa attempted to intervene.
Already, former Kiambu governor William Kabogo has told Wamatangi to unite with MCAs or risk being impeached. The Kikuyu council of elders chairman Wachira Kiago asked Gachagua to intervene and unite Wamatangi and MCAs. But Wamatangi dismissed the allegations, emphasising that he would not be distracted by those he referred to as “politically hangover” individuals.
“Time waits for no one, is that not the case?” Wamatangi said, asserting his determination to press ahead with his county transformation plans.
