Interior Principal Secretary Eng. Karanja Kibicho has clashed with Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko after he sensationally claimed the PS has been holding night meetings to scuttle DP William Ruto’s 2022 bid.
Sonko made the damning allegations when he appeared for breakfast interview with Kameme FM on Monday.
He said besides Kibicho, three other top officials, in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime are frantically trying to ensure Ruto’s 2022 ambitions are scuttled.
In the evening, he told the Star: “For now I can only name two, Kibicho and Nancy Gitau. There are two others who I will name later.”
In response to the claims, Kibicho denied knowledge of such meetings.
“We don’t do night meetings and if we did, I would tell you. Nobody is trying to fight the DP but there is a cartel of people who always act like they are his protectors. I run the intelligence of this country and there are no such meetings,” fired the PS according to the Star.
Kibicho disclosed that the governor was trying to get back at him for stopping him from flying two flags in his vehicle.
“Our problems started when he tried to fly two flags like the President and because I am the Interior PS, I am responsible for making him remove the flags,” stated the PS.
“Tell Sonko to man up and address the people he wants to address but not through me. He should address that person directly because that’s what men do. I am not a politician and neither would I be politicking around the DP.
Besides the DP’s Presidential bid, Sonko took issues with the PS for allegedly trying to dictate to him who he should pick as the Deputy Governor.
“I want a technocrat, professional and an elite person to deputise me, but not the one that Karanja Kibicho wants…”
He added: “PS is a very junior official who does not have the right to threaten me. I was elected by the people of Nairobi but not by a PS. I won’t allow intimidation just because you are PS of internal security. My deputy should come from the Kikuyu community but let me choose whom I want.”
Yet again, Kibicho refuted the claim saying he has no interest in Nairobi politics to a point he will dictate who should be picked as the next deputy governor.
“I am a small man and he rightfully said so. Why would I choose a deputy governor for Sonko? I cannot discuss such an issue with him. I am a voter in Kirinyaga and only interested in Governor Anne Waiguru,” he rebutted.
This is the second time Sonko has brought up the “night meeting issue”. A fortnight ago, he made similar claims during s church service in Makadara where Ruto was in attendance.
Mt Kenya leaders condemned his outburst and dismissed his claims as “hogwash”.