Governor Wamatangi Denied Chance to Speak in His Own County During the Funeral of Mzee Ichung’wah

A big political drama happened during the funeral of Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah’s father in Kiambu. A plan to embarrass Governor Kimani Wamatangi went badly wrong.

Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina, her husband, and some Kenya Kwanza MPs are said to have planned to shame the Kiambu Governor in his own county. People close to the event said Maina was heard saying that if the funeral was in Murang’a, she would have switched off Wamatangi’s microphone and removed him from the venue. MPs Kawanjiku, Wamuchukuru, and Alice Ng’ang’a were also linked to the plan.

The group is said to have pushed Ichung’wah to stop Wamatangi from speaking or giving condolences on behalf of Kiambu County. The Majority Leader agreed and told Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire to only mention Wamatangi’s name but not let him speak. This meant Governor Wamatangi was denied a chance to talk in his own county.

But the plan failed. When Mbarire mentioned Wamatangi’s name, the crowd clapped loudly and for a long time. The cheer broke the sad mood of the funeral. Witnesses said Betty Maina and her husband left quietly, looking embarrassed.

One of Wamatangi’s supporters said, “Governor Wamatangi is strong in Kiambu. Outsiders cannot shake him. Kiambu is not Murang’a.”