Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo has claimed that despite producing three presidents, the Mount Kenya region is the poorest in the country.
Speaking during an interview with NTV on Monday, December 6, 2021, the former Kiambu governor stated that residents of the region are struggling to fend for themselves, and grappling with high levels of illiteracy, unemployment and poverty.
Kabogo noted that it is important that politicians from the region unite and understand the problems facing the region as they negotiate with presidential aspirants.
File image of former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo. |Photo| Courtesy|
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“We are representing the Mt Kenya residents, all people and not the Agikuyu Community alone. How can we discuss our issues for the betterment of our people? When shall we decide that revenue should be allocated to counties in terms of population?
“That’s why we are asking Mt Kenya people to pause and rethink their choices ahead of the 2022 General Election. They should analyse who among the top aspirants represents our interests,” Kabogo stated.
He stated that while other aspirants are open to discussions, there are some who are tough-headed and have refused to listen to their demands.
The former governor castigated Deputy President William Ruto for allegedly asking Mt Kenya politicians to dissolve their parties and join UDA.
“There are some who wedded us (Jubilee 2013/2017) and we shared power. However, they are rejecting our proposals and labelling our parties as tribal. I started my own party, Tujibebe Wakenya Party, for Kenyans and not the Agikuyu.
“Nonetheless, someone else is analysing us from a tribal perspective,” Kabogo said.
His sentiments are, however, disputed by data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), which indicate that Turkana County is the poorest in the country with a poverty rate of 79.4 per cent.
Mt Kenya counties, Nyeri and Meru have poverty rates of 19 per cent. Kirinyaga and Kiambu counties have 22 and 23 per cent respectively. Murangá, Tharaka-Nithi, are in the top ten list of the richest counties with 24 and 27 per cent.
