Leaders end political discord, agree to make Kiambu “great again.”

Kiambu leaders led by Senator Kimani Wamatangi addresses a press briefing after chairing a 6-hour meeting at Jacaranda Hotel in Nairobi yesterday to resolve differences between the county's top leaders. [PHOTO COURTESY]

Political protagonists in Kiambu county yesterday buried the hatchet and resolved to work together to serve the people. 

In a meeting attended by Governor Ferdinand Waititu, his deputy Dr. James Nyoro and 12 of the 15 elected MPs at Jacaranda Hotel in Westlands in Nairobi, the leaders resolved that all leaders must uphold integrity and work as a team in serving residents of Kiambu County.

The six-hour meeting co-chaired by Senator Kimani Wamatangi, they also agreed that routine consultative meetings be held to ensure emerging issues are handled before they turn into crises. 

“We have agreed to on a number of issues that will create a conducive environment to help us serve our people well as a united team. We have also resolved to address any conflict amongst us through established legal channels,” said Wamatangi.

Wamatangi added that yesterday’s meeting was necessitated by the tension arising from the public spat involving senior county leadership leaders.

“We will also have quarterly meetings to be co-chaired by Kiambu Town MP, Jude Njomo and myself. We have also agreed that, if there will be any urgent issues that require the input of the county leadership, we shall alert them,” he said.

The meeting comes barely a week after Deputy President William Ruto visited the county on Friday and issued a stern warning against the wrangling between Waititu and Nyoro.

Ruto described the infighting between the duo over the county management as “shame” to the Jubilee top leadership. He asked the governor and his deputy to resolve grievances amicably while urging all county leaders to work together for the benefit of residents.

Governor Ferdinand Waititu has been at loggerheads with his deputy James Nyoro, who last week caused a storm when he spilled the beans on how the two had fallen out.

Nyoro accused his boss of being a lone ranger and sidelining him in the running of county affairs. The governor has also been at loggerheads with Senator Kimani Wamatangi and Woman 

Representative Gathoni Wamuchomba over his leadership style. The leaders have accused Waititu of sidelining them on key matters concerning the county.

Speaking after yesterday’s meeting, Governor Waititu said that they would henceforth resolve their problems internally whenever any misunderstanding occurred instead of fighting in public.

“We have unanimously agreed that if we fail to work for the people, we will be voted out in the same fashion that our predecessors were kicked out in last year’s election. The four remaining years are few and we have agreed that we must stick together,” said Waititu.

Nyoro expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting telling Kiambu residents to no longer worry about leadership wrangles in the county as their ‘differences’ with his boss had now been resolved.

“We have agreed with the governor that we will henceforth work together. All other outstanding issues that were in contention have been resolved,” he said.

MPs present were Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Jude Njomo (Kiambu Town), Githua Wamachukuru (Kabete), Wanjiku Wa Kibe (Gatundu North) Ng’ang’a Kin’gara (Ruiru) and Gabriel Kago wa Lydia (Githunguri).

Jonah Mburu (Lari), Paul Koinange (Kiambaa), Peter Mwathi (Limuru), Francis Waititu (Juja) and Thika MP Eng. Patrick Wainaina (Thika) were absent with apologies.

The Thika MP is out of the country on official parliamentary duties.