Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang'wa, on Wednesday, claimed that the wrangles between his governor, Kimani Wamatangi and the Members of the County Assembly (MCA) had attracted the attention of President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua.
In a press interview, Thang’wa alleged that Ruto read a riot act to Wamatangi during a trip to Githurai after the governor collided with senior Kenya Kwanza officials.
According to the former Kiambu County Speaker, Ruto stated, "You came to this party late, and if you cannot work towards the manifesto of Kenya Kwanza, then you are not part of us."
He alleged that the President further ordered the governor to familiarise himself with the Kenya Kwanza manifesto since he joined the party late in the lead-up to the 2022 General Election and did not have sufficient time to review it thoroughly.
Thang'wa, however, did not reveal the date of the Githurai rally in context nor the agenda of the tour. Ruto has only toured Githurai, once, on August 5, 2023, during his tour of the Central Region.
Nevertheless, the Senator added that Ruto was reached out to as a last resort in efforts to end the row between MCAs and Wamatangi.
The head of state was allegedly roped into the wrangles after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Thang'wa attempted to intervene, as per the senator's accounts.
“We called a meeting for mediation and dialogue with MPs from Kiambu County and the Governor. I asked the DP to invite us so that we could talk,” Thang’wa narrated.
According to Thang'wa, the governor started addressing irrelevant matters after arriving at the said meeting.
“He started remarking on how he was removed from a WhatsApp group,” the UDA Senator alleged, adding that Wamatangi refused to heed the direction outlined by the Deputy President.
MCAs have constantly accused Wamatangi, a former Kiambu Senator, of belittling them and mismanaging funds, accusations the governor vehemently refuted and alleged that the lawmakers were blackmailing him. Reports alleged that a section of MCAs wanted to be allowed to run road tenders and manage bursaries.
On Tuesday, a section of the lawmakers threatened to impeach the Governor months after discussing a similar motion at the county assembly on Wednesday, April 26.
They accused him of corruption, arguing he mismanaged funds by purchasing Ksh100 chicks at Ksh1,000 each.
While launching projects in the county on Tuesday, the governor, however, Wamatangi maintained his innocence, adding that he would work with MCAs keen on developing the county, seemingly alluding that the rest were hell-bent on satisfying their selfish ambitions.
An insider at Kiambu County, who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke added that the chicks were purchased at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), but did not divulge the exact amount spent. The source further accused Senator Thang'wa of colluding with MCAs to frustrate Wamatangi.
In other developments, the governor's woes escalated when chaos erupted in Ruiru, where he was distributing bursary cheques on Wednesday. The event ended prematurely as police were forced to intervene.
Wamatangi's aides also whisked him away to safety, as a section of the residents demanded he hand over the issuance of the bursaries to MCAs.
