Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo and his wife. He attended Waititu's inauguration at Kiambu's Ndumberi Stadium. [Photo: Classic 105]
For the first time, political maturity has been displayed in Kiambu with former governor William Kabogo attending his rival’s inauguration ceremony.Kabogo, who has been in several political tiffs with Ferdinand Waititu ever since he declared his interest in the Kiambu seat, showed that politicians in Kenya are changing tack and going for ‘softer’ power.The flamboyant politician is known for his no-nonsense approach to politics and power and he has no qualms calling it as it is.In what may not be easily understandable to many, Kabogo may be using this approach to show the people who rejected him that he is not a bitter man. He may also be hinting that he is not the bad guy as he has been made to look especially with his battered image during his tenure.To convince voters in the last election, Kabogo had moved from his high-end campaign machinery to using matatus, riding bodabodas and walking in towns to reach out to the people who had hitherto seen him as an aloof and unapproachable politician.Waititu, who has promised to make doing business in Kiambu easier will not have an easy time in office because he also has to match his predecessor’s success which barely got enough attention. This may have been Kabogo's undoing. He did not sell his success to the people who elected him.Kabogo has transformed Kiambu’s healthcare facilities which put him among the best performing set of the first lot of governors since the constitution was promulgated.Attending Waititu’s inauguration could have been a hidden message that Kabogo is watching.Kabogo conceded defeat twice- at the primaries and at the general election- and his presence at Ndumberi Stadium may just work in his favour.Five years is not a long time to be on political honeymoon and Kiambu voters suffer no fools.