Thika MP faulted for attacking Governor during launch of Sh800M stadium

The Monday groundbreaking ceremony for the Sh800 million Thika Stadium, which was eclipsed by an outburst from Thika MP Alice Ng’ang’a, highlights President William Ruto’s struggle in his attempts to make a political comeback in Central Kenya.

Cabinet secretaries, Soipan Tuya (Defense) and Salim Mvurya (Sports), along with their Principal Secretaries Patrick Mariru and Elijah Mwangi, launched the construction of the 10,000-seater stadium being implemented by the Defense Ministry and the Kiambu County government.

The launch came after a meeting last week where Mariru and the military officers leading the project visited Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi at the county headquarters to plan the event, which pundits say is one of the President’s strategies to win back the Mt Kenya region.

During the event, the Thika MP caused controversy by launching a scathing verbal attack on Wamatangi.

Wamatangi was absent, and his deputy, Rosemary Kirika, represented him at the event, also attended by Kiambu County Youth and Sports Minister Osman Korar, Thika MCAs Kennedy Mwanthi Kentams (Thika Township), John Njiru (Hospital Ward), Deputy Speaker, and Peter Mburu (Kamenu).

“The President sent ministers and PSs to launch a project to help the people of Thika, but the area MP gave a speech that did not address the project's impact. She kept repeating Governor Wamatangi's name. Two days after the event, her speech was the only thing trending,” Mburu, the Kamenu MCA, said.

Ruto has been fighting to regain support from a community that gave him about 40 per cent of his 2022 presidential vote.

The project will be jointly implemented by the county government of Kiambu and the Department of Defence.

The scope of work includes building a football pitch, an 8-lane athletics track, spectator stands, and a VIP lounge. The county government has already constructed modern kiosks around the stadium, a basketball court, a swimming pool, and sunk a borehole.

Thika Township MCA Kentams asked the CS to make sure that the new kiosks built by the county around the wall for current traders would not be torn down.

When MP was invited by PS Mariru, who was serving as the master of the ceremony, she described Wamatangi as the outgoing governor.

“Wamatangi ni outgoing governor, Mama simba ndiyo incoming governor,” said the MP.

Ng’ang’a has announced her intention to run for the Kiambu governor seat in next year's election with support from her Kiambu colleagues, including National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa, Woman Rep Ann Wamuratha, Njuguna Ka Wanjiku (Kiambaa), Mburu Kahangara (Lari), Githua Wamachukuru (Kabete), John Kiragu (Limuru), G.G Kagombe (Gatundu South), and Elija Kururia (Gatundu North).

Tuya and Muvyra criticised the politicisation of the event and used their speeches to explain the project, adding that the national government was collaborating with the county government since it is a devolved function.

“The construction that has already happened in the stadium (by the county government), which includes 600 stalls, a basketball court, a swimming pool, and any other development, will all be preserved, and those who have been peddling propaganda on that should stop. We have prepared plans that incorporate all those developments,” Tuya said.

This is not the first time the Thika MP has stirred controversies that have ruined national events, after she was linked to hiring fake A.I.P.C.A woman council member, whom she ferried to such service attended by President Ruto in Gatundu North.

She was caught on camera signaling the rowdy women to heckle other leaders present in an embarrassing scene that overshadowed the presidential event after the media turned it into a news item for a whole week.

The president is reportedly concerned that the behavior of his Mt Kenya brigade is damaging his efforts. As a result, he is said to be reorganising his strategy in his bid to try to regain support.

During a recent State House meeting, the president, reportedly concerned about the conduct of some MPs, gave 11 MPs from Kiambu a dressing-down over their ongoing behaviour, which he believes is damaging his political popularity in the populous county.