According to sources well versed in Kiambu county politics, Mr Kabogo fell out with Wamatangi over six years ago when as Governor, Kabogo clashed with the then Senator Kimani Wamatangi before a Senate watchdog committee. Mr Kabogo was appearing before the Senate Public Accounts and Investment Committee to respond to audit queries raised against his administration by the then Auditor General Edward Ouko over accountability issues
Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo has been accused by current Governor Kimani Wamatangi of being on a political revenge mission against his administration. Mr Wamatangi was last week quoted saying that a senior politician from the county (he gave no name) has been secretly lobbying MCAs against approving his nominees for various positions.
But in a quick rejoinder, Mr Kabogo came out to deny that he was in any way placing hurdles in front of the governor and that Mr Wamatangi is just used to blame games rather than delivering on the pledges he gave to the electorate. According to sources well versed in Kiambu county politics, Mr Kabogo fell out with Wamatangi over six years ago when as Governor, Kabogo clashed with the then Senator Kimani Wamatangi before a Senate watchdog committee. Mr Kabogo was appearing before the Senate Public Accounts and Investment Committee to respond to audit queries raised against his administration by the then Auditor General Edward Ouko over accountability issues raised about expenditure.
Mr Kabogo lost to Wamatangi in the race for governor but President William Ruto upon assuming office picked Moses Kuria who was also a gubernatorial candidate to the position of Cabinet Secretary leaving Kabogo in the political cold. Sources say Kabogo has a big influence in the County Assembly and has been pushing MCAs not to give Wamatangi an easy ride. Out of the 60 elected MCAs, 4 were elected as independent candidates while Jubilee Party won four seats and William Kabogo’s Jibebe Party won 4 seats. UDA won 45 seats.
Following serious lobbying, MCAs rejected five out of the 10 cabinet nominees picked by Governor Wamatangi citing a lack of experience on their part and the requisite qualifications. Wamatangi will now be forced to go back to the drawing board to replace Nancy Kirumba (Finance, ICT and Economic Planning), Margaret Ruinge (Administration and Public Services), Salome Wainaina (Housing, Physical Planning, Municipal Administration and Urban Development), Elias Mbuthia (Health Services) and Wilfred Mwenda Kiara (Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives Development).
Those who were approved by the county assembly are Bibianne Waiganjo (Education, Gender and Culture and Social Services), David Kuria (Water, Environment, Energy and Natural Resources), Nancy Gichung’wa (Trade, Tourism, Industrialization and Investments), Samuel Kimani (Roads, Transport and Public Works and Utilities) and Ali Korar (Youth, Sports and Communication).
Wamatangi has also had run-ins with traders over the allocation of stalls in the refurbished Githurai market in Ruiru. He is facing pressure from casual workers who were laid off by the county government after he assumed office.
