Respect Governor Waiguru, elders tell Kibicho

Mihiriga Kenda clans elders address the press in Kutus, Kirinyaga County, on February 18, 2020. PHOTO | GEORGE MUNENE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Kirinyaga elders Tuesday accused Interior Cabinet Secretary Karanja Kibicho of showing disrespect to Governor Anne Waiguru and told him to apologise.

The elders said the PS erred when he visited the controversial Sh15 billion Kenya Medical Research Institute project at Wamumu village in Mwea Constituency where he allegedly used unkind against Ms Waiguru.

Led by the committee chairman, Mr Gitimu Mbuthi the elders vowed to reject anyone undermining the governor.

DEVOLVED FUNCTION

Speaking to the press in Kutus town, the elders observed that land is a devolved function and they would not allow anybody out to frustrate the governor's efforts to solve land issues in the region.

They were responding to remarks by the Dr Kibicho that Governor Waiguru's administration was to blame for the delay to construct the mega project meant to benefit the residents.

They stressed that they were behind Governor Waiguru on her quest to have Memorandum of Understanding signed between the county and Kemri before any project was undertaken.

When the PS visited the area, he said that the governor knows who had moved to court to block the construction of the project. He advised her to prevail upon the complainant to withdraw the case to allow the construction of the project to begin.

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

Dr Kibicho was unhappy with the conditions the devolved government has imposed on Kemri saying they were unnecessary.

The elders hit out at Dr Kibicho for touring project's site without involving the office of the governor.

"Before moving to the site, the PS should have consulted the governor,” another elder said.

The project involves the construction of a university, Level Six hospital, a factory for manufacturing medical equipment and a research centre for various diseases.