- Governor Kahiga has downplayed the speculations saying the CoG system of election is not competitive.
- He said he stood with the DP because he hails from his county and was being unfairly targeted by some forces in the government.
Image: FILE
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has dismissed reports that the council Governor is split in the middle with one camp allied to President William Ruto and another to his deputy Rigathi Gachagua ahead of the county bosses’ elections.
In an interview on Friday on TV 47, Kahiga said while CoG might have differences here and there, that should not be misconstrued to be a Ruto vs Gachagua fight.
“The 47 governors are not split in that kind of way. We could have other differences but it is not on the Ruto, Gachagua axis,” Kahiga said.
The Nyeri Governor, who is eyeing the CoG chairperson seat, is a close associate of DP Gachagua and has been vocal in defending him against attacks from his critics.
Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, an ODM member believed to be favourite for the wing allied to President Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga, has also expressed interest in the seat.
Ahmed is currently serving as CoG vice chairperson.
But even as the two contestants are perceived to be mirroring a Ruto vs Gachagua battle, Kahiga has downplayed the speculations saying the CoG system of election is not competitive.
“As a council of governors, we don’t ballot. It is consensus. I can give a scenario of what happened in Mombasa; we were three candidates. We almost had a stalemate (on who to be the CoG chair) and we were asked to go out. We did that and we were able to compromise," he said.
Kahiga at the same time weighed in to his support for Gachagua saying the national politics should not be drawn to CoG.
He said he stood with the DP because he hails from his county and was being unfairly targeted by some forces in the government.
“Of course, I have come out as the governor of Nyeri to protect a son of Nyeri against an onslaught. When you hit him right left centre, someone is got to stand for something and that is why I stood to support Gachagua,” Kahiga said.
“This is why I stood to support Gachagua and I know even in the CoG, there are people who silently support him because of what he is going through, not because of who he is but because of what he is going through.”