Wamatangi hints at political shift, says Kiambu residents hold final say
By Emmanuel Rono, May 7, 2026Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has suggested that his future political alignments will be dictated entirely by the wishes of his constituents, declaring that he will not be forced into a political party ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a public gathering in Kiambu on Thursday, May 7 2026, the Governor insisted that his current focus remains exclusively on service delivery and that the people of Kiambu, not Nairobi-based politicians, will dictate his political future.
“Na mimi sitaenda kutafuta chama wapi ama wapi. Nitatulia hapa Kiambu. Kama ni chama inakuja, nyinyi muniambie ni gani mnataka. Ama namna gani?” Wamatangi said.
Development over “mushene”
The Governor’s remarks come amidst heightened political activity in the Mt. Kenya region, where former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and other leaders have been actively consolidating support.
Wamatangi told residents that he would abide by their political direction when the time for campaigns comes, insisting that leadership decisions should be guided by the electorate and not personal interests.
He posed a series of rhetorical questions to the crowd, saying the people of Kiambu were the ones who would ultimately determine his political path.
“Muniambie ni hii alafu sasa wakikuja ile nyinyi mumesema, hiyo ndio nitatembea nayo. Ama namna gani? Kwani mimi najichagua, si nyinyi ndio munitachaguanga? Nitaenda kivyangu kwenda kusema nataka hivi ama nyinyi ndio muna niambia vile mnataka? Si ndio munaniambia?” he posed.
He argued that the true ticket for any leader is their track record of work, rather than the ability to engage in propaganda or insults.
He noted that while anyone can make noise or engage in loose talk, the real test of leadership is the quality of work delivered to the public.
“Ile tiketi ya kupita ni kazi pekee’ yake. Hii ingine upuuzi na mdomo na pilipili na nini na mushene, hakuna mtu mwenye hawezi piga hiyo mushene. Ama namna gani? Mushene kila mtu anaweza piga.“
Criticism by Moses Kuria
His remarks come following criticism by former Trade and Investment Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, who accused his administration of crippling the county’s real estate sector by delaying development approvals for three consecutive years.
In a statement on his X handle on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, Kuria has described the real estate industry as the heartbeat of Kiambu County’s economy, warning that continued inaction is choking growth, stalling investments, and denying residents critical economic opportunities.
According to Kuria, the prolonged delay in issuing approvals for construction and development projects has created uncertainty among investors, many of whom are now shifting their focus to other counties with more efficient regulatory processes.
“The real estate sector is the backbone of Kiambu’s economy. Sitting on approvals for three years is a massive disservice to the people and investors,” Kuria stated.