Rift in Kiambu as Waititu’s deputy Nyoro joins Kieleweke
Kiambu Deputy Governor James Nyoro, who is at loggerheads with his boss Ferdinand Waititu. He has now joined Jubilee Party’s Kieleweke faction that is opposed to Deputy President William Ruto. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Kieleweke is led by nominated MP Maina Kamanda and has also been critical of Mr Waititu, demanding his arrest.
- Mr Waititu and Mr Nyoro have attended Mr Ruto’s numerous functions in the region in the past.
- Mr Nyoro says since Mr Waititu took office from Mr William Kabogo in 2017, at least Sh8 billion has been lost.
Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and his deputy James Nyoro are at loggerheads again, with the latter joining Jubilee Party’s Kieleweke faction that is opposed to Deputy President William Ruto.
Kieleweke is led by nominated MP Maina Kamanda and has also been critical of Mr Waititu, demanding his arrest.
The two have attended Mr Ruto’s numerous functions in the region in the past.
But in the past few weeks, particularly during weekends, with Mr Waititu has been accompanying Mr Ruto to various events outside Kiambu while his deputy has been with the Kieleweke group.
MONEY THEFT
Three weeks ago, as Mr Waititu was with the DP and the Tangatanga faction at a church in Komothai, Mr Nyoro joined Kieleweke in Kikuyu, where he highlighted possible theft of money in Kiambu and criticised Mr Ruto.
A week later, Mr Nyoro was with Tangatanga at a church in Naivasha.
He was joined by Kiambu Woman Representative Gathoni wa Muchomba and Limuru MP Peter Mwathi, known critics of Mr Waititu.
And while the governor accompanied Mr Ruto to Trans Nzoia County on Saturday and Bungoma on Sunday, Mr Nyoro was in Kiharu, where his team again criticised Mr Ruto.
CORRUPTION
Mr Waititu and Mr Nyoro have been trading barbs, with each accusing the other of corruption.
Other leaders in Kiambu have decried the acrimony, saying residents are gaining nothing from it.
The deputy county boss has vowed not to resign despite calls from Mr Waititu's allies to do so.
Others who have openly expressed their dissatisfaction with Mr Waititu’s style of leadership are Senator Kimani Wamatangi, nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura, Ms Wa Muchomba, MPs Mwathi (Limuru), Jude Njomo (Kiambu Town), Patrick Wainaina (Thika) and several ward representatives.
In June 2018, Mr Nyoro described his experience with Mr Waititu as torture.
He accused him of dismissing people allied to him and running the county unilaterally in disregard of the law.
Mr Nyoro says since Mr Waititu took office from Mr William Kabogo in 2017, at least Sh8 billion has been lost, an accusation that the governor denies.
