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Moses Kuria speaks out after Waititu sends his brother packing

By AGEWA MAGUT January 3rd, 2019 2 min read

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has spoken out after Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu sent his brother packing on Wednesday, January 2.

The MP’s brother, Mr John Ngigi Kuria, who was serving as the Chief Officer in charge of Agriculture, Crop Production, Irrigation and Marketing in the county, was handed a 30-day leave letter on January 2.

He was also ordered to surrender all the tools and equipment that are in his possession to his Livestock and Fisheries docket.

POLITICALLY INSTIGATED

But the MP now says the move, which came after he criticised President Uhuru Kenyatta over lack of development in Mt Kenya region, was unfair and politically instigated.

“He (my brother) got terminated at 8pm last night, just a few days after our encounter with Waititu in Thika, and he was not even given time to hand over. We need to build a culture of strengthening institutions of removing politics from the running of administrations and the civil service and the public service and to make professional our management of public affairs,” said Mr Kuria after attending the memorial service of Equity Bank co-founder Peter Kagema in Nairobi on Thursday.

“Introducing politics in such affairs is very unfair, but that is the kind of governor that we have in our county, unfortunately.”

In sending Mr Ngigi on leave, Mr Waititu said he had noted that he had not taken his annual leave for sometimes “due to the busy nature of your office”.

“You are therefore advised to proceed for your annual 30 days leave w.e.f (with effect from) Thursday the 3rd January, 2019. You will be required to resume duty on Tuesday the 14th February, 2019. In this regard, handover your duties and any other county property, tools or equipment in your custody to the Chief Officer Livestock, Fisheries, Veterinary Services,” reads Mr Waititu’s letter.

EXPRESSED CONCERNS

This comes days after the Gatundu South MP expressed concerns that Mt Kenya region has not befitted much from the Jubilee government.

Mr Kuria, during the New Year eve celebration in Thika Stadium, which was also attended Mr Waititu, suggested that although the region backed supported UhuRuto in 2013, August 8 and October 27, 2017, the region has not received any development support.

“We have been rendered into voting machines but development is channeled elsewhere; we must shelve that nonsense. I want to tell the President to launch water, new roads and electrification projects. We were with him in Kisumu where he launched new roads but coming to Kiambu, he only issued certificates to rehabilitated alcoholics,” said Mr Kuria.