Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has hit out at Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi over the county's exhibits at the just-concluded Devolution Conference.
In a statement on Monday, August 18, Wamuchomba noted that the event was an opportunity for governors to showcase their achievements and innovations.
"The Devolution Conference has just ended. An event where Governors had the golden chance to showcase to the country and the world what they have achieved in the last two years, as well as the potential of their counties.
"From this platform, some counties such as Murang’a under Governor Irungu Kang’ata stood tall, taking home honor and pride after showcasing innovation in health technology, food security, county approvals digitization, and many other forward-looking initiatives," she said.
Wamuchomba contrasted Murang’a’s exhibition with Kiambu’s, criticizing Wamatangi for presenting piglets and chicks as a symbol of progress.
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"Meanwhile, Kiambu under Governor Kimani Wamatangi left the stage with ridicule, exhibiting piglets and chicks as our county’s 'success story.' This is a travesty, considering that Kiambu is the biggest county economically," she added.
Wamuchomba that Kiambu has vast resources and receives significant allocations but has failed to translate that into meaningful development.
"With over Ksh13 billion annually from the national government and another Ksh6 billion from own-source revenue, Kiambu ought to be showcasing thriving pork industries producing millions of sausages; value-added poultry and egg industries packaging millions of trays of eggs and tons of chicken meat; banana value-addition chains churning millions of kilograms of products; advanced dairy processing plants scaling up milk and dairy products," she further said.
Wamuchomba went on to dismiss Wamatangi’s empowerment programs ineffective in addressing unemployment and economic challenges facing residents.
"The era of handouts disguised as empowerment is long gone. Kiambu needs industries to create jobs. When people have jobs and money in their pockets, they can buy piglets, chicks, or whatever they need, not queue for freebies," she stated.
Wamuchomba went further, demanding answers from the governor on key issues affecting farmers and industries in Kiambu, including feeds and markets.
"Where do the farmers he is giving piglets and chicks buy animal feeds from, and at what prices? Why can’t he adopt Kang’ata’s subsidies model to cushion them? Where will these farmers sell mature pigs and chicken? Why can’t the county revive a bacon factory in Uplands Limuru to guarantee a ready market?" she posed.
Wamuchomba also put Wamatangi on the spot over support for farmers and the adoption of technology to improve efficiency in the county
"Having supplied maize seeds to farmers, why can’t he support and operationalize an animal feed manufacturing factory to sustain the pig and poultry sector?
"Why can’t he adopt Murang’a’s ICT innovation model in hospitals to improve efficiency, operations, supply management and approvals for construction industry?" she concluded.
This new development comes barely a week after the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) maintained that doctors in Kiambu County will not resume work until all their grievances are resolved.
In a statement on Thursday, August 14, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah said the union is dealing with rogue leadership in the county and vowed to continue the industrial action until their demands are met.
"When dealing with rogue leadership, there is no standard formula. We remain on a protected strike, and we will not return to work until every single issue is addressed and an end to victimization and intimidation of healthcare workers," he said.
Atellah further announced plans to escalate the protest, revealing that doctors will begin a series of demonstrations to further pressure the county administration into action.
"Next week, we begin a series of demonstrations to amplify our call. Our strike is not just about salaries or promotions, it is about the right of every Kiambu resident to access quality, timely, and dignified healthcare.
"We are not just fighting for ourselves, we are fighting for the future of healthcare in Kiambu and across Kenya," he further said.
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