Presidential security keeps Wambui away from Kibaki

By Job Weru

KENYA: President Kibaki’s security teams had a new assignment yesterday — keeping Othaya The National Alliance parliamentary candidate Mary Wambui Munene away from the venues while on a tour of the constituency. 

Until last year when she switched parties, she was just known as the ‘PNU activist’. Then she was the most spoken about woman politician in Party of National Unity, stalked by claims denied right inside State House by the President himself, that she was his second wife.

But through a twist of fate, Ms Wambui is on the threshold of taking up the parliamentary seat Kibaki has held for decades, that hasn’t gone down well in some quarters. Yesterday, Wambui trailed

The President as he visited at least three development projects in the area but presidential guards — in uniform and plainclothes — ensured she never got near the President.

As the presidential guard kept her away from the Kibaki entourage, sometimes through staging a human shield in front of her, Wambui put up a protest over the inclusion of the man she beat in TNA nominations, Mr Gichuki Mugambi, in the presidential programme.

Also protesting alongside her was Kibaki’s former head of security, Mr Esau Kioni, who is vying for the seat on a Democratic Party ticket. Interestingly, Kioni too was being elbowed aside by security officers, some of whom he may have commanded during his time at State House.

Mugambi, the chairman of the Othaya Development Association (ODA) is the Saba Saba Asili parliamentary candidate. ODA has been coordinating development projects in the constituency, which explains why Mugambi may have been included in the Kibaki programme.

Wambui was first barred from entering Munyange Police Station where the President was commissioning the newly-built facility.

Her protests forced the security forces to eject Mugambi from the ceremony. Her argument was that keeping Mugambi next to the President was tantamount to presenting the President’s preferred successor. 

Forced entry

A scuffle ensued at the police station’s gate shortly before the president arrived, at around 10am, when the candidates threatened to force their entry as Kibaki was ushered in.

This threw the presidential teams into confusion, with them intimating to The Standard they had instructions to keep Wambui away from the President’s itinerary. “We have been forced to keep all the candidates out of the scene, since it might bring some embarrassment,” said an officer who could not be quoted.

At one time, Wambui told Mugambi on the face: “If you enter, I will follow you.” From that point not less than five officers were at her side wherever she went.

At Munyange Police Station, Mumwe Community Centre and Othaya Boys High School, where the President toured, General Service Unit officers were at Wambui’s side all through.

She just could not break way from the security ring around her and walk over to where the President was.

Ironically, the officers also kept Kioni at bay and also shoved him at times although he is a former head of presidential security.

Locked out

At Othaya Boys High school, Wambui was literally locked out at the gate, with the GSU officers using chain and padlock to secure the iron gates.

Also locked out were journalists from various media houses, who despite interventions from some senior security forces, were told to wait outside or proceed to the newly-constructed Nyeri South District headquarters where the President was to hold the last meeting, and also commission the offices.

In protest, Wambui, whose nomination was embroiled in controversy, confronted the security officers, as she threatened to mobilise a huge group of people who gathered outside to heckle the security detail. “Ngwira andu aya othe mooke tumugiririe,’’ she threatened. (I will mobilise all these people to heckle you).

The officers ignored her.

All this time, Mugambi was accompanying the President inside the school, where even members of the public were kept at bay. At a media briefing outside the school’s gate, Wambui and Kioni accused their competitor of using the presidential visit to get an edge over them. “He has authorised the security agents to lock us out. We are all candidates and are demanding our fair share. We will never allow any ‘project’ and come March 4, Othaya people will reject these machinations,” an angry Wambui told journalists.

At one time outside the gate, Wambui was spotted with clasped hands consulting with Kioni.

At another time she was pictured with her hands on her head, a traditional gesture of dismay. She lamented that as an Othaya resident, she had helped purchase a generator and computers for the school, and she wondered why she was not wanted during the campaign period.

“This is an indication that they do not want me here, whereas I donated the equipment to the school. We are waiting for them on March 4,” she went on.

Earlier, at Mumwe Community Hall, security officers had a rough time as they prevented Wambui from entering a hall that the President was inspecting.

Appeared unaware

The officers were thrown into confusion and this led to the entry of residents into the compound, which was initially sealed off from members of the public.

Wambui sneaked to the hall’s entrance, where she remained until the President left. At all these instances, President Kibaki appeared unaware of the events that were unfolding right under his nose.

But he was quick to warn leaders vying various positions to keep off fighting or ugly incidents that demean others. “The campaigns are not about fighting or demeaning other people. Those in businesses and other sectors of development will continue with their work,” he said.

He also lamented that some politicians were spending huge amounts of money in their campaigns, but advised the public to take the money but pick the right leaders.