As clock ticks towards next year’s general elections, politicians in Kiambu County are hastily adopting political dynamics that are likely to jolt the elections outcome.
A section of politicians and grassroot leaders have been advocating for a split between Kiambu East and Kiambu West, to create Thika County. However, the proposal has been overtaken by events as per the boundaries review laws.
The split between Kiambu East that comprises Thika, Juja, Ruiru, Gatundu North and Gatundu South constituencies and Kiambu West that has Githunguri, Lari, Kabete, Kiambaa, Limuru, Kiambu and Kikuyu constituenciws is likely to shape the upcoming campaigns as a battle for resource equity, political autonomy, and demographic supremacy.
Driven by a massive voting population nearing 1.3 million, the regional division will be the defining theme for candidates seeking the governorship, parliamentary seats, and county assembly positions.
Campaigners argue that this split is necessary to resolve historic funding injustices, as Kiambu currently receives less equitable share revenue relative to its massive population.
The “East vs. West” geopolitical battle for the Kiambu Governor seat revolves around regional resource and power-sharing.
Leaders in the East, including Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, have pushed back against the perceived dominance of the West and have actively sought to field or unite behind an Eastern-based gubernatorial candidate to reclaim political control.
MPs allied to Thika town MP Alice Ng’ang’a , who has declared her bid to run for the county’s gubernatorial seat, have been pushing the splitting agenda, claiming that this will enhance resource equity and proper representation in the county.
On the other hand, the incumbent Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi and his close allies have vehemently played down the proposal accusing those spearheading it of hiding their failures behind it.
On Friday, Juja MP George Koimburi noted that since the proposal to hive off another county seems impossible, the only remaining solution is for Kiambu East to vote as a bloc and ensure that top county seats are won by candidates from the region.
Koimburi who spoke at an empowerment forum at Mung’etho area, accompanied by Ms Ng’ang’a and Kogi Investor who’s seeking the county’s Senator seat, accused the Wamatangi-led administration of deliberately starving Kiambu East of developments.
Koimburi noted that instead, Wamatangi has concentrated development projects in Kiambu West where he hails from.
The lawmaker noted with concern that despite Kiambu East contributing a lion share of the county’s revenue, it has been denied requisite projects including access roads and left to grapple with a dilapidated healthcare system.
“Our roads in Kiambu East are in a pathetic state. The governor is only taking raw materials from our quarries to make roads in Kiambu West. This is a disservice to us and we need to correct it at the ballot by voting as a bloc and voting in one of our own,” Koimburi said.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Kogi who reiterated that Kiambu East has dragged on development-wise since the inception of devolution due to the habit of voting in county leaders from Kiambu West.
“Time is ripe we have the Governor, Senator and Woman Representative come from Kiambu East. This is possible because we are the majority and our votes, are enough to propel us to the coveted seats,” he said.
In a separate event in Thika, preacher-cum-politician David Ngari alias Gakuyo and Ngoliba ward MCA Joachim Njama made similar calls to Kiambu East reaidents saying that they must shift county leadership for better representation and resource allocation in the 2027 elections.
Njama argued that Kiambu East has received a raw deal from Governor Wamatangi’s administration despite raising huge amounts in revenue for the county government.
MP Ng’ang’a who was issuing bursaries worth sh 17.7 million to University and college students reiterated her stand to vie for the governor position.
The lawmaker, another heavy hitter from Kiambu East who has frequently challenged the governor’s administration and pushed for a shift in county governance, said that her quest is fuelled by poor leadership from the current administration, underdevelopment in Kiambu East, failed services especially in the county healthcare among others.
“What I want to bring is an improved healthcare system where accessibility will be eased for all residents. We’ve Heard even extreme cases where nursing mothers have been held hostage in our public hospitals over unpaid bills which should not be the case with a working government,” she quipped.
Ng’ang’a who has rolled her sleeves warming up for the county’s top job is expected to face off with the incumbent [Wamatangi] and businessman Mwaura Kogi who’s vying on a Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
