The unanticipated move by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria to boldly criticize President Uhuru Kenyatta in public for launching development projects in regions that overwhelmingly voted for the opposition at the expense of the Head of State’s political bastion has culminated into a painful consequence after Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu sent the legislator’s brother on compulsory leave.
On Thursday, Waititu who stood right next to the MP as he made the remarks during a New Year party in Thika Stadium pulled the trigger and sent John Ngigi Kuria who works as the County Chief Officer-Agriculture, Crop Production, Irrigation and Marketing on compulsory leave.
This comes one day after Moses Kuria did what no other leader from the region would dare do despite the remarks being the popular opinion among the vote basket’s political class.
Waititu couched the notice of compulsory leave as an “overdue annual leave” stating that Mr. Ngigi would resume normal duties after two weeks on February 14.
“It has been noted that you have not taken your annual leave for some time due to the busy nature of your office. In this regard, handover county property under your custody to the Chief Officer-Livestock, Fisheries and Vetinary Services,” read the notice.
The county chief’s move got tongues wagging almost immediately with former governor William Kabogo faulting his successor for what he described as interfering with the workmanship of a faultless person.
This looks like Hon. MK’s brother. Even assuming MK has done something wrong to Waititu. Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son… pic.twitter.com/BGaYRHRTeC
— Hon. William Kabogo (@honkabogo) January 2, 2019
During the party at Thika Stadium, Moses Kuria blasted Uhuru for overlooking the Mt Kenya region on development projects since he got re-elected.
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The MP claimed that the President has been fast to launch projects in other regions while fastening the purse strings on his home region.
“In 2019 Mt Kenya voters ought to think long and hard. We can’t be casting our votes while goodies are dished elsewhere. We must stop this nonsense. The other day we launched a road in Kisumu but when the President comes to Kiambu he only issues recovering alcoholics with NACADA certificates. He must cease taking us for a ride,” charged the Gatundu South MP.
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On November 2, 2018, President Kenyatta castigated MPs from the region for engaging in politics after the MPs demanded a meeting with him bearing a development wish list for the region. The MPs had accused Uhuru of being inaccessible since he was re-elected.
A similar meeting had aborted a few weeks earlier with speculation being that the president was angry with the MPs for addressing him through the media.
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