Kiambu Governor William Kabogo with Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu in a past event. The two battling it out for the Jubilee ticket to contest for the Kiambu governor seat in August polls. [Photo: jambonewspot.com]
A political showdown is expected between Kiambu Governor William Kabogo and his fierce rival Ferdinand Waititu in the race for Jubilee gubernatorial Party ticket.
Kabogo and Waititu are eyeing the Jubilee ticket to contest for the Kiambu governor seat in the August 8 polls.
The two politicians have been engaging in political supremacy over the last three years. Their political enmity started when the former Embakasi MP migrated to Kiambu politics and contested for the Kabete Parliamentary seat following the death of incumbent George Muchai in 2015.
Waititu’s entry into Kiambu politics and his announcement of contesting the governor seat in August polls has been causing Kabogo sleepless nights ever since.
Kabogo and Waititu have been embroiled in legal battles with Kabogo questioning Waititu’s academic qualifications.
In 2015 Kabogo filed a suit seeking to have Waititu disqualified from contesting or holding any political office.
The Kiambu governor claimed that Waititu does not have academic papers to contest for political office.
Waititu, however, rubbished Kabogo’s claims saying that he has academic papers. The MP said that he is a graduate and that his academic papers are authentic.
The two politician’s rivalry also saw President Uhuru Kenyatta say that he will not visit the Kiambu unless Kabogo and Waititu reconcile.
The President was also quoted saying that his failure to visit Kiambu is because of the rivalry between Kabogo, Waititu and other politicians.Their (Kabogo and Waititu) rivalry has also created division among Kiambu politicians .
Majority of MPs and MCAs side with Waititu claiming that Kabogo has failed the county.
The politicians accuse Kabogo of failing to involve them in running county affairs and allegedly perpetuating dictatorial style of leadership.
Waititu says that his agenda is to transform the lives of Kiambu locals by bettering their economy, creating jobs and improving infrastructure.
The MP claims that Kiambu people want him to be their next governor for leading the war against illicit brews and land grabbing.
Kabogo has however been firm dismissing claims of being arrogant and a dictator. He affirms that his administration has bettered the living standards of Kiambu people.
Kabogo who launched his re-election campaign last week is sure of of being re-elected. The Governor says that his development track record speaks for itself hence good reason why he should be re-elected as governor.
A recent poll survey by Trends for Insight Africa (TIFA) showed that Kabogo enjoys a majority of locals support at 45 percent compared to Waititu’s 33 per cent.
Waititu has however dismissed the TIFA poll saying that Kabogo no longer has numbers.
Political analyst note that the race between Kabogo and Waititu will be tight but the incumbent could carry the day based on his experience and tactical political styles.
Kabogo and Waititu meet today (Friday) in the Jubilee Party primaries that are already underway across Kiambu.