Uhuru's cousin Kungu Muigai lands state job

Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has appointed Kungu Muigai as the chairperson of the Kenya Cultural Centre Council board.

In a gazette notice dated January 20, 2023, CS Namwamba appointed Muigai - former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s cousin - whose tenure starts with immediate effect.

Muigai's appointment will run for a period of two years.

Muigai is the Kikuyu Council of Elders patron. Despite being a relative to Uhuru, Muigai was his critique during during his tenure as President, accusing him of not handling the fallout with President William Ruto - then his deputy - appropriately.

Before the August 9 2022 General Election, Muigai led a delegation of 1,200 Kiambu County elders to Ruto's residence to seek clarification on key issues.

In a tell-all interview with TV47, Muigai said, "they [elders] wanted to see the deputy president on two issues. They have seen the altercation between President Uhuru and Ruto, they wanted to know what is the issue between the two. Secondly, they wanted to know what will happen to President Uhuru if Ruto wins the August presidential election."

According to Muigai, Kikuyu elders approached different politicians to support the presidential bid of Uhuru back in 2012.

Among those who were approached, according to Kung'u, included Eugene Wamalwa, Musalia Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka.

"All of them refused and told us they were eying for the seat themselves. When we approached Ruto, who was also running, he told us 'let me consult my elders first because there is a feeling that since I supported Uhuru in 2002, he should return the favour and support me this time round'. He came back and said 'I will support Uhuru'.

"We met the Kalenjin elders and agreed that we will also support Ruto's presidential bid and that was when the famous 'yangu kumi, yako kumi' phrase came up. It was a promise. When the president reneged on the promise, the elders asked me if it was normal for Kikuyu elders to break promises."