Mwingi North MP Musyimi Nzengu and his Mwingi Central counterpart Gideon Mulyungi defended Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu over incitement allegations she is facing.
The Kitui County boss was accused of fueling tribal conflict between communities in Kitui and Kiambu counties.
Their remarks come after an uproar from Kiambu County businessmen accusing Governor Ngilu of inciting the youth to torch one of their lorries that was transporting charcoal from Kitui County.
Speaking on Sunday Dr Mulyungi appealed to the masses not to view Ngilu’s move as a fight against any particular community but as a fight against environmental degradation and urged all Kitui residents to support her.
[caption caption="Mwingi Central MP Gideon Mulyungi"]
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The lawmaker further argued that charcoal burning in the county had damaged the county’s ecosystem and further threatened to turn the region into a desert with time.
"Let them leave our trees for us. We don't go to other regions to cut down trees. We already have shortage of rain in this area, so we cannot continue to allow people from outside to come in and cut down our trees and be on their way, Dr Mulyungi stated.
On his part, Nzengu maintained that Kiambu leaders had acted out of emotions rather than sobriety and urged them to be careful over their actions and pronouncements.
“I think it is an overreaction really. I don’t think Governor Ngilu asked people to literally burn a lorry but of course, it has happened in the past where even lorries carrying sand have been burnt,” Nzengu stated.
On February 1, Governor Ngilu issued a directive banning charcoal and sand businesses within the county in an effort curb massive destruction of trees and rivers in Kitui, which she maintained resulted in poor rains and perennial drought.
[caption caption="Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu"]
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“We cannot sit and watch while rogue people continue ruining our environment. We must put an end to illegal charcoal burning and sand harvesting in Kitui county from today,” Ngilu stated.
