Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi on Sunday refuted claims that he has in the recent past been rebuked and fallen out with President William Ruto over plum and extensive land in the populous county.
In a statement, the Governor dismissed the claims that President Ruto had admonished him at the Sagana State Lodge during the Head of State's working tour to the region as fake and lacking in basis.
The reports that first surfaced on September 1, alleged that Ruto had taken on Wamatangi for refusing to hand over two pieces of land. The reports also alleged that powerful government operatives had been pressuring the first-term governor to release the land that was previously owned by a multinational fruit processing company.
Reports also indicated that the county chief was also under pressure to release another parcel of land situated in Thika Town.
He further denied claims that he had vowed to block powerful people in the national government from taking over the land without a clear plan of how his electorate would benefit.
In a previous video which Wamatangi referenced, the Governor accused well-connected people, whom he did not name, of trying to take over the land at the expense of the locals.
"What type of leader are you if your work is to become a leader and you start plotting for those who gave you work," he had asked.
"The parcels of land I am holding on to in Kiambu, I said none will be grabbed by anyone. You have stolen a lot of parcels and you can not do that any longer.”
Wamatangi went on to say that the land would be used for socio-economic development and would not be sold to rich people.
While addressing Kiambu residents, Wamatangi fell short of saying that he was battling powerful cartels but exuded confidence that God would see him through the tribulations.
In his statement on Sunday, Wamatangi assured Kenyans that Ruto was not one of the people he was referring to when he made the remarks.
This comes a few days after Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang'wa maintained that the Governor had been lectured by the Head of State.
“You came to this party late, and if you cannot work towards the manifesto of Kenya Kwanza, then you are not part of us,” Thang’wa told Wamatangi.
The frosty relationship between Wamatangi and Kiambu politicians allied to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has led to wrangles with county legislators threatening to impeach the first-time Governor.
Members of the County Assembly (MCA) have accused him of misusing public funds and failing to involve them in development matters.
