Government Goes After Ngilu Over Burnt Charcoal Truck

Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu has been summoned by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) over allegations that she incited residents to burn down lorries ferrying charcoal from the county.

NCIC Chairman Francis Ole Kaparo stated that Ngilu was expected at NCIC offices on February 20 at 10 am.

"Following the utterances by Ngilu in regards to charcoal burning, the commission has summoned the Governor in a letter dated February 14," NCIC tweeted on Thursday.

Governor Ngilu has maintained that enforcement of the ban on charcoal production was being done in accordance with the law.

Leaders from Kiambu County on Saturday led residents in demonstrating as they called for Ngilu's arrest.

[caption caption="The lorry that was torched in Kanyonyoo, Kitui"][/caption]

Limuru-based transporters lit fires at Kwambira along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway as they called for Ngilu's arrest, accusing her of targeting specific communities.

Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, addressing charcoal dealers, stated: “No person should order the destruction of people’s property. Ngilu should be arrested.”

Kitui County Executive in charge of Environment, John Makau, was on Monday apprehended along with one of Ngilu's advisers, David Mbisi, by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers and detained at Kitui Police Station.

“We arrested two county officers and questioned them over their alleged involvement in the burning of a charcoal truck at Kanyonyoo,” County DCI boss Proper Bosire stated.

Ngilu has accused cartels in the charcoal business of fighting her since the ban on charcoal production and sand-harvesting took effect.

[caption caption="Governor Charity Ngilu"][/caption]

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