Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi has dismissed claims that he is auctioning the Gusii community to the Jubilee government.
Maangi was trolled by a number of county residents on his official Facebook page on Monday following his close association with Jubilee leadership despite being a member of opposition, Cord.
But on Monday, during an interview with the reporter, Maangi denied claims that he was auctioning the community to Jubilee government for his own benefits.
“I have seen the accusations (on Facebook), but I think our people sometimes like being too personal. I have never been and will never be a political broker,” Maangi said.
“The Kisii people know the right leaders to be elected and you cannot impose people on them. It is sad that people can say that I am out to auction the region to Jubilee government. It is time we desist from the primitive politics of character assassination,” he added.
Maangi defended his close association with Jubilee government terming it ‘developmental based’, insisting that working together with people from rival parties was healthy.
“When I work with Jubilee, it doesn’t mean that I have decamped to the government. I am only working with the government for the sake of initiating development in our region therefore, my relationship with Jubilee is based on development and not for political scheming,” Maangi added.
He urged area leaders to work together despite their political persuasions to spur growth in the county.
“Working together with rival parties for the sake of steering growth does not make one qualify to be a political broker. We should always put politics aside when it comes to development,” he said.
Maangi has hosted Deputy President William Ruto in the region on three occasions, with the most recent being on Sunday during a fundraiser at Itierio Lutheran church. The county voted overwhelmingly for opposition Cord.
Photo: Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi (left) with DP William Ruto at a past function. Maangi has denied social media criticism that he was a political broker scheming to auction the Community to Jubilee government. AMakori/Hivisasa.com