Governor Charity Ngilu has maintained that the ban on charcoal will remain in force.
Ngilu while denying allegations of inciting to violence said she has no apologies to make for lawfully enforcing the ban that seeks to safeguard the environment.
Speaking when she appeared before the National Cohesion and Integration Commission for interrogation in Nairobi on Monday, Ngilu termed the incitement allegations against her as baseless.
The governor said she did not order youth to torch vehicles ferrying charcoal as some politicians claim, saying she only asked locals to stand up and protect their environment from being destroyed.
Ngilu said the charcoal ban was being enforced in the interest of the Kitui people.
She told the Kaparo led commission that the ban was being enforced within the confines of the law, terming allegations of incitement as a plot meant to tarnish her image.
Through her lead counsel Kalonzo Musyoka, Ngilu told the commission that the charcoal ban has been politicized and hijacked by some individual politicians to malign her reputation.
Governor Ngilu told the commission that the ban will remain in force and will be implemented within the confines of the law.
The NCIC will give a report on Ngilu’s statement in the next seven days even as pressure mounts for the governor to be arrested and charged in court.
A section of Kiambu politicians led by Governor Ferdinand Waititu want the Kitui governor charged and forced to compensate for two lorries that were allegedly burned by youths in Kitui County two weeks ago.
The Kiambu leaders have vowed to lead daily protests until when the governor will be arraigned in court.
On Monday, as Ngilu was being grilled by NCIC, residents of Limuru and Rironi blocked the Nakuru-Nairobi highway protesting against the Kitui governor.
The angry locals allegedly deflated tyres of vehicles along the highway paralyzing transport for hours.
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