A section of leaders from Kitui County have rubbished calls by some Kiambu politicians to have Governor Charity Ngilu arrested over charcoal ban.
Led by Mwingi Central MP Gideon Mulyungi, the politicians termed the calls 'misplaced'.
Speaking to journalists in Kitui Town on Sunday, the politicians said they will not allow Ngilu to be crucified for championing environmental conservation.
The politicians said the claims that Ngilu incited the youths who torched a lorry ferrying charcoal inKitui County were meant to tarnish her name.
“We are telling Kiambu politicians to go slow because Governor Ngilu did not order any vehicle to be burned as they are claiming,” Mulyungi said.
The Mwingi Central MP accused Kiambu politicians of politicizing the issue to gain political sympathy.
Mulyungi who was flanked by Mwingi North MP Paul Nzengu , woman representative Irene Kasalu and Kitui assembly speaker George Ndotto vowed to stand with Governor Ngilu.
The legislators said ban on charcoal and sand harvesting was passed by the previous county government.
The leaders vowed to ensure the ban was fully enforced, noting that it was the only way they will conserve the environment.
On Saturday, Kiambu deputy governor James Nyoro alongside Limuru MP Peter Mwathi called for Governor Ngilu’s arrest.
The Kiambu politicians accused Ngilu of allegedly inciting youth to burn a lorry that was ferrying charcoal in Kanyororo on Wednesday last week.
According to the Kiambu politicians, Ngilu’s aides allegedly intercepted the lorry, arrested the driver and left youth to torch the vehicle.
The lorry according to the politicians belongs to a Limuru resident and was ferrying charcoal from Tana River County and not Kitui.
Governor Ngilu has since denied inciting youths to torch vehicles maintaining that the ban on charcoal will be fully enforced.
Ngilu on Saturday said that the ban was effected to protect and conserve the environment.
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