President Uhuru Kenyatta publicly rebuked Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu during a 2019 funeral ceremony for Muranga businessman Thayu Kamau, criticizing remarks that appeared to shield the Rift Valley region from anti-graft investigations. Waititu had previously aligned with Deputy President William Ruto but later distanced himself from the Tanga Tanga movement.
At the event, Waititu stated: "Even as we support the war against graft, we should remember that our people are in Rift Valley and I request that we approach this war together as a team, just the way we joined hands in 2013 with our brothers in Rift Valley." The governor's comments came as Uhuru's office prepared to address political dynamics ahead of the 2022 presidential election, where Ruto was positioning for a bid.
A close associate described the exchange, noting Uhuru confronted Waititu after his remarks, accusing him of engaging in "dirty petty politics." The president reportedly grew angry, though Waititu did not publicly respond. The incident highlighted tensions within the ruling coalition over the scope of the anti-corruption campaign.
The 2013 reference underscored historical political alliances, while the 2019 event reflected ongoing debates about regional equity in Kenya's governance. The 2012 copyright notice on the original source's footer remains unchanged.
