Never been, won’t be: PS Kibicho sets records straight on his interest in Kirinyaga politics

Interior PS Karanja Kibicho yesterday dismissed claims that he is eyeing the Kirinyaga governorship in the 2022 General Election. Kibicho said he has no interest in the seat and was busy discharging his duties as principal secretary.

Kibicho who spoke on Milele FM yesterday morning has been at loggerheads with Governor Ann Waiguru after she accused him of funding Ward Representatives to impeach her.

In an open letter to him last week, Waiguru accused the PS of fanning political hostility in the County. In a no-holds-barred attack, Waiguru termed Kibicho “a primary catalyst in the destructive politics” that now characterize the County.

The Governor sensationally claimed that Kibicho has been supporting and funding, a well-orchestrated scheme to destabilize her administration. Kibicho’s differences with the Governor came to the fore when he publicly castigated her for opposing the issuance of a title deed for construction of a Sh15 billion Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) facility in the County.

He termed the Governor’s opposition to the project as “foolish.” He later, through the Ministry of Lands headquarters, issued a fresh title deed for the land, leaving Waiguru clutching a worthless piece of paper.

Yesterday, Kibicho said he had been implementing development projects in the County for more than a decade. “I did not start yesterday. I have been running a foundation called Gathuthi-ini Hope Foundation, which was started in 1999 even before I became PS,” he said.

The PS has been convening meetings every fortnight at his rural home for all political leaders and government officers to plan on the development of the County.

But Waiguru has been missing in all the meetings.

“To mind, the welfare of my people doesn’t mean that I have political ambitions. Since 1999, how many elections have happened? There were 2002, 2007, 2013 and 2017 elections, what have I been waiting for?” he asked.

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