Wamatangi defends scorecard, accuse rivals of hoodwinking Kiambu residents

Governor Kimani Wamatangi

Governor Kimani Wamatangi has defended his term at the helm of Kiambu, saying his administration has outdone previous governments.

Wamatangi said had his predecessors delivered services as expected, Kiambu would be very far.

“I just finished one and a half years since I took over the leadership of the county. I found most sectors in a big mess. If the former leadership did things right like we have been doing, we would be somewhere as a county.

“My opponents have mastered the art of deceiving people and that is why they will never tell you the truth,” Wamatangi said.

The governor outlined key developments that his administration has made despite his short leadership period.

He cited the Gatundu Level Six hospital that has been at the centre of protests over poor medical services being offered to patients.

Wamatangi said he has revolutionised the healthcare sector by delivering quality medical equipment.

Political nemesis were waging a war against him, the governor said. He also took issue with parliamentarians whom he said were doing less despite having the CDF kitty from the national government.

“The MPs for instance have been given enough money to undertake various functions but they don’t tell you what they do with it. Whenever they speak to the public, they only speak ill of me.”

The governor spoke at Ituuru village in Gatundu South where he spearheaded delivery of maize seeds, fertiliser, chicks, avocado seedlings and bursary cheques to over 5,000 residents.

He was joined by minority leader and Ng’enda Ward representative Joe Kigara, and MCAs Kungu Smart (Kiamwangi), Joseph Kahura (Kiganjo), Ann Wairimu (nominated), and local politician Njinji Murigi.

Murigi raised the issue of skirmishes in Kiganjo village in Thika, which left one dead and scores of others - including government officers - with multiple injuries.

The politician urged police to promptly arrest culprits behind the incident.

Central Kenya regional DCI boss Bethuel Oburu has since called for patience to allow a thorough probe to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the brawl.

Several witnesses have recorded statements Oburu added, with more expected to shed light on the incident.

Oburu told journalists that a team of homicide and DCI experts have been dispatched from Nairobi and his central office to try and piece together the required information before they conduct arrests.

"The investigations have taken the right direction and the matter will soon be accelerated. I consequently urge locals to keep and uphold peace and allow us to complete investigations,” he said.

The May 17 incident occurred after supporters from different political camps clashed.

Kamenu Ward MCA Peter Mburu was supervising the allocation of stalls in a market which he had launched the previous day when some MPs and their supporters trooped to the site to launch the same project.

The MPs were Alice Ng'ang'a (Thika Town), Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Gabriel Kagombe (Gatundu South) and Elijah Njoroge (Gatundu North).

Police sources said violence broke out when Mburu's supporters started hurling stones at the MPs and their troops.

In the ensuing melee, a bodaboda rider lost his life while others, among them MPs Kagombe and Ng’ang’a, escaped with injuries before they were driven to safety.

Ng’ang’a’s bodyguard and assistant county commissioner Philomena Nzioki were hospitalised after suffering multiple injuries.

BY THE STAR