BY PETER KARANJA
Former Kiambu governor William Kabogo on Wednesday 7, met United Democratic Party (UDA) Presidential candidate, Deputy President William Ruto – in an apparent clear the air meeting.
From the pictures Kabogo shared soon after the meeting, one can tell from the body language of DP Ruto, Oscar Sudi and Kabogo that it was an honest, and tense meeting.
The meeting came just a few days after Kabogo twice expressed his disaffection after some UDA officials forgot to recognize his name and party (Jibebe) in a communication.
An alleged WhatsApp communication between Kabogo and Ruto was leaked to the public leading to a wide range of speculations.
In one of his outbursts, Kabogo wondered aloud if his name and that of his party were intentionally left out of the UDA communication shared on its social media platform.
A visibly furious Kabogo would follow his first salvo with yet another earth-shaking demand after meeting aspirants under his Tujibebe Wakenya Party in Nyeri County on Tuesday, March 22.
Kabogo brought up the controversial one man one-shilling puzzle on allocation of funds to the county governments.
“I went to Ruto and I told him that one man one shilling would go a long way for the region. He answered that the model would hurt many counties, but promised me that additional money would be allocated to the counties in his administration,” he said, insisting that he would need to have the DP’s promise in writing, on this matter, ahead of the August 9 polls.
Adding: “I am in Kenya Kwanza but on a rider that Ruto must present a written document in two months on how he will handle economic matters of our region and if he fails to do so then I may change my mind.”
“I only have one vote and if I was to vote now, it would go to DP Ruto unless I get a reason not to vote. But if something happens and I have to change my mind and vote for myself as president, I will,” he added.
Kabogo who was the first Kiambu governor said: “In politics, a day is a long time. Things do change. You may find me on the ballot but we are not there yet.”
His tricks definitely worked – and he finally met DP Ruto – after which he strolled to a kibanda to eat madondo chai.
“Courtesy call on the chief hustler. We discussed many issues,” Kabogo tweeted after meeting Ruto at his Karen home.
“Later I had chai maharage na chapo, with Some Nai guyz. Kuskiza tu,” said Kabogo .
He is eying Kiambu governor seat alongside Ferdinand Waititu (former Kiambu governor), the incumbent James Nyoro, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina, Senator Kimani Wamatangi and Kiambu County Assembly Speaker Stephen Ndichu.
DID YOU KNOW
1. In 2017 elections, Kabogo lost the jubilee ticket to Ferdinand Waititu, and conceded defeat way before the results were announced
2. Kabogo quit Jubilee and contested as an independent candidate but lost to Waititu
3. He studied bachelor of commerce degree at Punjab University, India.