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Chaos yesterday greeted Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi as he presided over a bursary fund disbursement exercise in Ruiru Constituency.

Police had to move in to quell a near-violent confrontation as a mob stormed the venue at PCEA Membley Church in Gitothua Ward demanding to be included in the list of beneficiaries who were also being given a stipend for “fare”.

Organisers had a difficult controlling the crowd of over 2,000 who at one time stopped the Governor’s vehicle from leaving the venue by banging its doors and closing the gate.

Earlier, four Members of the County Assembly from the area protested the manner in which the Governor had conducted the process, accusing him of sidelining them and running a “one-man show”.

The ward reps including John Kamande (Gitothua), Kimani wa Nduta, (Biashara) and Kennedy Odhiambo (Kahawa Sukari) charged that Wamatangi was using the bursary kitty, besides other county resources, as a campaign tool.

“We wonder how a Governor can allocate himself the duty of distributing bursary cheques to all the wards in the county in total disregard of MCAs who are the people’s elected representatives at that level,” said Kimani.

Development plan

The MCAs also took issue with Wamatangi’s programme of distributing chicken and pigs, claiming there was no way of accounting for the funds spent and said they would initiate a probe.

They accused Wamatangi of failing to deliver on his campaign promises and occasioning the return of Sh3 billion to the Treasury in the 2022/23 financial year.

This comes shortly after Kiambu MCAs accused the county boss of dictatorship, failed leadership and inability to manage the county development plan.

In a press briefing at the County Assembly on Tuesday, the MCAs accused the governor of being a lone ranger, unable to work with other leaders and failing to involve key people in decision-making.

Also at the centre of the tiff between the MCAs and the Governor is his alleged failure to fully constitute his government for effective service delivery.

Githiga Ward Member of Assembly Ruth Waithera faulted Wamatangi for failing to submit the names of Chief Officers to the Assembly for approval.

“We are here to express our disappointment with Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s government. Our governor has a problem with decision making. County Chief Officers, who are the accounting officers, have not been appointed since we were elected,” she said.

“While an advert was placed last year and shortlisting done, the shortlisted have never been appointed. The acting Chief Officers have been working as casual laborers as they only get a one month contract,” said Waithera.

Among the key positions that have remained vacant for months is one for the County Secretary after Martin Njogu resigned.

But the Governor said he was determined in his mission to deliver to the people of Kiambu and had no room for distraction.

“For the first time in the history of Kiambu, we are distributing bursary funds to the tune of Sh300 million in three segments a year. This means every year, the county will give out Sh900 million for the purpose,” Wamatangi said.

He also rubbished claims that he was undermining other leaders, including MCAs, and denied being dictatorial.

Kiambu Senator Karungo Wa Thang’wa has accused the Governor of working in isolation and failing to fill crucial positions in his administration.

“Wamatangi has no substantive County Secretary. He also has not appointed Chief Officers and the acting ones are on monthly contracts,” said the Senator.

He said that while he had given the Governor one year to put his house in order, he would no longer keep quiet as things went wrong in the county.

Wamatangi has had bad working relations with MCAs and other elected leaders in the County, a challenge that has seen Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua intervene.

Although the Governor sat with MPs from the county in May to resolve differences with other leaders, Karungo says, nothing had happened since.

Kiambu MCAs sing a solidarity song outside the Assembly. They have threatened to impeach Governor Kimani Wamatangi for alleged incompetence. PD/Mathew Ndung’u