Citizen TV's Jeff Koinange engaged Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana in a discussion based on the governor's agenda and plans for the future on a Wednesday, January 15, episode of JKLive.
As the discussion unravelled, Jeff highlighted Governor Kibwana's efforts to improve and develop various sectors of his county and his drive to empower the youth that has earned the governor a positive public opinion.
Jeff opined that the demeanour he has kept up to his second term at the helm of the lower Eastern county has seen people label him a 'nice guy'.
"You seem to be a nice guy, too nice, you cannot be a nice guy and be president. They will eat you alive," Jeff remarked.
In his defence, the Makueni governor stated that while he portrayed an image of a nice guy, when he needed to get work done he was a totally different individual.
"Maybe on the surface, I look very nice, but when real things need to be done we have to do them," Kibwana stated.
Further, into the 2022 presidential talk, the JKLive host posed to Kibwana if he had what it takes to beat Deputy President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga to the country's top job.
Highlighting the norm that has plagued Kenyan politics, Jeff asked if Kibwana feared the 'numbers factor' in the country's political arena.
"I think yes (beat Ruto and Raila), we have a big problem of negative ethnicity, and it is something that is fueled by us politicians and when ordinary Kenyans live in Nairobi, the slums, they are not necessarily tribal.
"But come elections time and that sentiment is whipped. I can feel that Kenyans are getting tired of being mobilised on an ethnic basis. I can feel that they are at a point where they will want people to talk issues, how will they change their lives,' he added.
However, Kibwana noted the importance of alliances in the political field but contrasted the tribal numbers gameplan with what he referred to as a team with a visionary framework.
The Makueni governor identified teamwork as a platform to sell ambition, noting that the odds of a win when in a team were higher.
"You cannot just stand up and declare your presidential ambition and win. You have to identify like-minded people.
It is good to be a team, and within that framework, you present to the people what you are about and within that team, there is an opportunity to offer leadership," Kibwana stated.
Kibwana was ranked as one of the best performing governors in Kenya in 2019 by United Kingdom-based advisory firm, All Africa Advisors.
