Waititu the wrong nominee for Kabete, says Kabogo

Kiambu Governor William Kabogo has crticised the Kabete electorate for nominating Ferdinand Waititu as the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) flag-bearer in the May 4 by-election.

Speaking in Ruiru Town where he had attended a meeting convened by former councillors from Kiambu on Friday, Kabogo said Waititu was an outsider in Kabete politics, and was not tuned to the people’s needs.

“It is not practical that I, for example, come from Ruiru but vie in another constituency. It simply does not add up,” said Kabogo.

The governor, however, added that the people were at liberty to elect whoever they wanted to represent them.

Kabogo downplayed Waititu’s recent announcement that he would challenge him for the governorship in the 2017 General Election, saying he was ready for competition.

He said he was a seasoned politician and cautioned the former Embakasi MP that Kiambu politics was different from Nairobi’s.

On Friday Kabogo and Waititu faced off in Juja, where they had accompanied President Uhuru Kenyatta to mark the 20-year anniversary of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

After he finished addressing a crowd in Juja Town, the President invited Waititu to greet the people.

“I am confident of winning the Kabete seat and subsequently becoming your governor come 2017,” Waititu said.

Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a, one of Kabogo’s critics and who is now supporting Waititu’s bid, said Kabogo should brace himself for tough times ahead.

“We are determined to bring change,” said Ng’ang’a.

Waititu is also enjoying the support of MPs like Juja’s Francis Waititu, Kimani Ichungw’a (Kikuyu) and Kigo Njenga (Gatundu North).

Kabogo prides himself with leading a  wealthy county, largely through efficient collection of rates and levies in towns such as Thika, Kiambu, Ruiru, Banana (Karuri), Juja, Githunguri and Kikuyu.

But his government’s popularity has taken a hit recently due to the feeling that it has imposed high charges on traders and introduced stringent conditions for building constructions. Waititu, on the other hand, is seen as a champion of the poor.