Wamatangi Addresses Land Rift with Ruto
Sunday, the governor of the populous county of Kiambu, Kimani Wamatangi, refuted claims that he had recently been reprimanded by President William Ruto and had fallen out with him over vast and valuable land in the county.
In a statement, the Governor dismissed as false and unfounded claims that President Ruto had reprimanded him at the Sagana State Lodge during the Head of State’s official visit to the region.
According to reports that surfaced on September 1, Ruto had sued Wamatangi for refusing to give over two parcels of land. The reports also alleged that powerful government agents had exerted pressure on the governor’s first term to release the land formerly owned by a multinational produce processing company.
According to reports, the county chief was also under pressure to surrender a second parcel of land in Thika Town.
Further, he refuted claims that he had pledged to prevent powerful national government figures from seizing control of the land without a clear plan for how his constituents would benefit.
In a previous video to which Wamatangi referred, the Governor accused influential individuals, whom he did not name, of attempting to seize land at the expense of 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.”
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Wamatangi continued by stating that the land would be utilized for socioeconomic development and not sold to wealthy individuals.
While addressing the residents of Kiambu, Wamatangi refrained from mentioning that he was fighting against potent cartels, but he did express confidence that God would see him through the trials.
Wamatangi assured Kenyans in his Sunday statement that Ruto was not one of the individuals he was referring to when he made the remarks.
This comes a few days after Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa of Kiambu claimed that the President had lectured the Governor.
“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 claimed Ruto had told Wamatangi.
The icy relationship between Wamatangi and Kiambu politicians affiliated with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has led to squabbles with county legislators threatening to impeach the newly-elected governor.
Members of the County Assembly (MCA) have accused him of squandering public funds and excluding them from development-related discussions.
Wamatangi Addresses Land Rift with Ruto
