Kibicho Quells Riot Inside Uhuru's Sagana Meeting

  • By John Mbati on 30 January 2021 - 7:23 am
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    President Uhuru Kenyatta (centre), his bodyguard (second left) and Interior PS Karanja Kibicho (left) at Sagana State Lodge on Friday, January 29, 2021
    PSCU

  • Interior Principal Secretary, Karanja Kibicho, stepped in and restored sanity at President Uhuru Kenyatta's meeting at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri after MCAs demonstrated. 

    The lawmakers, on Friday, January 29, were infuriated by the presentation of the legal expert, Tom Macharia, who urged them to support the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) for various benefits. 

    Since 2017, the Mt Kenya MCAs have been pressurising Kenyatta to award them with Ksh 2 million car grant given to MPs. 

    They have also been demanding for salary increment and want the Head of State to strengthen the Ward Development Fund as promised. 

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    President Uhuru Kenyatta (centre) celebrates with MCAs at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri on Friday, January 29, 2021
    PSCU

    The MCAs interrupted Macharia's presentation, threatened to chase him off the podium and also to disrupt the whole event, as per sources who spoke with the Standard. 

    Interior PS Kibicho and State House official, Andrew Wakahiu intervened and called County Speakers, Joseph Kaguchia (Nyeri), Stephen Ndicho (Kiambu) and a number of Majority Leaders into a private session.

    The group agreed on a settlement which was reportedly forwarded to the President. 

    A few minutes later, the negotiating parties came back with Kenyatta who addressed the meeting and approved the car grant demands. 

    However, he declined to approve their salary perk requests and insisted that it was under the jurisdiction of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). 

    "Today, I will speak boldly and be brutally honest from my heart about this region. We must be honest with ourselves that if you are elected, you must do what is expected of you, not politicking. 

    Even after my term ends, I will be actively involved in politics to ensure fairness and equality for all," Kenyatta said warned MCAs from being swayed by politicians who do not hail from the region. 

    Kenyatta will spend three more days in Nyeri and will meet MPs, Senators and Governors to discuss the region’s politics and development matters. 

    President Uhuru Kenyatta speaking during a meeting at Sagana State Lodge on January 29, 2021.
    President Uhuru Kenyatta speaking during a meeting at Sagana State Lodge on January 29, 2021.
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