Clement Kamau
Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu on Sunday said he has finally decided to heed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s call on leaders to stop politicking and engage in development.
Speaking at The Victors Assembly Church in Kikuyu sub-county, Waititu said he has taken the move after realising that he was being ‘punished’ for engaging in the 2022 politics.
“I want to tell the Kiambu people that I will no longer engage in politics but will henceforth engage in matters development,” he said amid cheers from the congregation.
He said charges against him, his wife and six others are a fabrication meant to embarrass him.
The embattled governor said despite the court baring him from going into his office over corruption charges, nothing will stop him from discharging his official duties.
He said he would ‘set up’ temporary offices across the county from where he will be meeting people.
Fulfil responsibility
“I was only barred from going to the Kiambu offices. I will be going around the county and call my people and tell them where to meet me and fulfill my responsibilities,” he said.
And to assert that he is actually in charge of the county affairs, Waititu said his government had released more than Sh500 million to pay salary arrears for county workers.
“Tell all workers that their dues are already in their bank,” he said. He said the arrears were occasioned by deliberate delays by the county’s immediate former Chief Finance Office Faith Njeri.
Waititu who was flanked by a host of ward representatives said his government is stable and there was no division as was being alluded in the press.
Meanwhile, The Civil Society Reference Group is calling for Waititu’s incarceration over contempt of court.
The group wants the court to cancel his bond and lock him up until his case is heard and determined.
“Governor Waititu should remain in custody until his corruption case is heard and determined. He is inspecting the very projects over which he was charged in court and accused of getting kickbacks from just hours after his release from remand custody,” said the group’s convenor, Suba Churchill.
