Interior PS Karanja Kibicho is Threatening Me, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko Says

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko claims that Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho has been threatening him.

Speaking during an interview with Kameme FM on Monday, the Governor said that Kibicho and three other government officials are forcing him to appoint a certain individual as the new Nairobi Deputy Governor following the resignation of Polycarp Igathe earlier this year.

Sonko further alleged that Kibicho was among Mt Kenya leaders who have been convening night meetings in a bid to sabotage Deputy President William Ruto's 2022 presidential bid.

"For now I can only name two, Kibicho and Nancy Gitau. There are two others who I will name later," Sonko said.

"These are the same people who want to control Nairobi but they should know that I only take orders from the President and his deputy. I want a technocrat, professional and an elite person to deputise me, but not the one that Karanja Kibicho wants," the governor said.

Sonko said that he will not succumb to threats and intimidation from Kibicho, calling him a junior officer.

"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."

"My fight is not against people from Mt Kenya but some four civil servants who are not doing the job that they are supposed to do," he said.

However, in a quick rejoinder, Kibicho denied interfering with Nairobi County Government or planning to scuttle Ruto's State House bid and asked Sonko to man up.

"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," Kibicho said.

"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," said Kibicho.

"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," Kibicho said angrily.

The PS, who is understood to be President Kenyatta's close ally, said that Sonko picked up a fight with him after he ordered him to stop flying Kenyan national flag on his official 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."

"When you are drowning, you hold on to everything including straws. Tell him to leave Kibicho alone and start cleaning Nairobi," he said.