KENYA : The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy (ICT) Cabinet Secretary (CS) William Kabogo has declared himself the new sheriff in the Mt. Kenya region, urging Residents to Rally behind President Ruto's Kenya-Kwanza administration.
The Cs, speaking on Tuesday January 28, down-played the wide-spread rebellion against President Ruto's Government witnessed in the region.
At the Same time, Kabogo dismissed anyone else claiming to champion the region's interests as irrelevant, criticizing former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's recent remarks against President William Ruto, describing them as mere "kelele za chura."
“Those claiming that Mt. Kenya has issues are lying; the region is fine. I’ll visit the region later and deliver the president’s greetings, and they will be well received. If a few individuals are making noise, it’s just the noise of frogs—it will soon die down,” he stated.
Kabogo, took a swipe at the Former Deputy President, likening his criticism of the president to someone being thrown out of a kitchen only to accuse the cook of poisoning the food.
“You can’t be part of a system, leave it, and then start saying it’s poisonous. Those making noise have boarded a bus that’s going nowhere,” Kabogo added.
The Cs, urged locals to support government's initiative's, insisting that's the only way they can benefit from President Ruto's leadership.
Meanwhile, Speaking during an interview today, Kabogo said that one of his regrets is joining politics.
Kabogo, revealed that after joining politics in 2002, he was accused of being a drug baron.
“I’ve often wondered why I joined politics when I’ve never lacked anything in my life,” he said.
“All I’ve received are accusations and insults that still follow me to this day,” he added.
Kabogo admitted that sometimes he regrets his political path, especially when he sees others working to provide for their families, while he has never struggled for food.
The ICT CS questioned what he hoped to achieve in politics, given that it has only brought him insults, accusations, and blame.
He also pointed out that the drug allegations stemmed from his political career.
Kabogo recalled that when he entered politics as a young man, he owned a helicopter for campaigning, and many people couldn’t believe someone his age could afford one.
He said some people speculated that his wealth came from selling drugs.
“In August 2002, I decided it was our time to lead and energize Kenya. Coming from Mombasa, I was unfamiliar with the Mlolongo system, but I was shown a long queue. I was told I’d beaten a queue of nine people. That marked the beginning and served as a warning,” Kabogo said.
“As I traveled by helicopter as a young man, people wondered how I could afford one and claimed it was drug money.”
The CS emphasized that while the internet never forgets, he’s never been involved with or associated with any drug barons.
“People speak, and the internet doesn’t forget, but I’ve never been close to or associated with anyone who is involved,” he said.
At the same time, Kabogo disclosed that he learnt of his nomination as CS on the news days after holding a phone call with President William Ruto.
The CS further dismissed assertions that the president's talks with the former President Uhuru Kenyatta had a hand in the nomination, claiming that he has been out of touch with Uhuru for a while.
“Of course my appointment came after the president’s visit to Uhuru Kenyatta’s home but I can tell you for free that it had nothing to do with that visit. The former president didn’t call me. I haven’t spoken to him in quite a while. The only call I got the previous day was from the president.
"And he said that he was looking at things and there was something he was working on. He didn’t say anything else. The conversation was less than a minute and he said he would call again which he didn’t. The next thing I saw was my appointment on the bulletin. I was very surprised,” Kabogo remarked.
He affirmed that he was ready to take up his new role maintaining that he has served before and that his track record is clear.
The CS, however, noted that the role is not easy but declared he was up to task adding that he has competent staff in the ministry.
“The job is not easy. It is quite a task but I am up to it because we have knowledgeable people in the ministry. I’ve done my rounds now in the ministry and I have seen the potential young men and women have. To get things done there wouldn’t be hard at all,” Kabogo stated.
The CS took over from Margaret Ndung'u who was nominated as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Ghana but turned down the offer.
