PS Kibicho loses his cool as Kirinyaga event turns chaotic

Interior principal secretary Karanja Kibicho lost his cool Friday afternoon after an annual bursary fund drive organised by him in Ndia, Kirinyaga County turned chaotic.

The event held at Gathuthuini Secondary School in Kagio-ini was attended by at least 30 MPs, with the BBI politics taking center stage.

Also in attendance, were Interior CS Fred Matiangi’i, Governors: Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Francis Kimemia (Nyandarua), Ali Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Joseph Ole Lenku (Kajiado), Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka-Nithi), John Nyagarama (Nyamira), Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri), COTU secretary-general Francis Atwoli, Woman Reps: Wangui Ngirici (Kirinyaga), Fatuma Gedi (Wajir), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Gathoni Wamuchomba (Kiambu), among others. All the listed leaders spoke at the function.

Drama began when nominated MP Maina Kamanda, in his speech, failed to recognise Deputy President William Ruto as a key player in the BBI agreement.

Kamanda reportedly refused to recognise Ruto as President Uhuru Kenyatta’s “partner in Government”.

In his address, Kamanda repeatedly made references to President Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga as the political pillars, who “have led to uninterrupted peace and political stability in Kenya”.

However, hundreds of residents, who had attended the event, began chanting “Ruto, Ruto”, forcing Kamanda to cut short his speech.

Kamanda’s attempts to continue speaking bore no fruit, as the chants got louder.

Defeated, Kamanda handed over the microphone to area woman rep, Wangui Ngirici.

Earlier during the event, the BBI politics became the talk of the ceremony, with leaders allied to Uhuru’s faction in Jubilee and those affiliated to ODM, saying the BBI recommendations should be implemented via a referendum and not Parliamentary action.

Kiambu woman rep, Gathoni Wamuchomba, said some MPs are corrupt, and cannot be trusted to guarantee a two-thirds threshold in the National Assembly to effect the proposed changes.

“Some of them have shown us that they can receive money in toilets to sell their loyalty,” said Wamuchomba.

The pro-Ruto chants, the BBI exchanges led to a moment of disorder that forced the host, Karanja Kibicho, to grab the microphone and demand normalcy.

Kibicho asked those “who were not interested in what was being said”, to leave the venue, terming their actions as “primitive”.

Kibicho said it was unfortunate that he had invited leaders from across the political divide to help in a noble exercise, yet it turned out to be a political battlefront.

Rising to speak, Kibicho’s boss, Fred Matiang’i, asked those who accused Kibicho of being an anti-Ruto crusader to direct the blame on him and President Kenyatta.

“I take full responsibility for any action by the security team, never touch my PS, don’t blame him for any political problem within and without Government. Kenya has only one president – Uhuru Kenyatta – who we receive instructions from. Any action taken by the security personnel is as a result of a presidential directive,” said Matiang’i.

The minister further told off the leaders allied to DP Ruto, who are accusing Kibicho of using State resources to undermine Ruto.

“A house can never have two heads,” said Matiang’i.

Other leaders who spoke at the event, are MPs Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) Kabinga Wathayu (Mwea), Munene Wambugu (Kirinyaga Central), Gichimu Githinji (Gichugu), Junet Mohamed (Suna East), among others.

Every year, Kibicho organises the fund drive to raise money, which is channeled toward helping promising-but-underprivileged school-going children in Kirinyaga.