Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced that the government will award long-serving Ndeiya Councillor Stephen Ndung’u Njenga for his outstanding contribution to the Ward’s residents in Kiambu County.
DP Gachagua stated that Njenga, who is 94 years old, is as intelligent and visionary as he was when he served as councillor from 1974 to 2007.
“I have known Mzee since 1995 when he was a councillor and I was a young District Officer. He was then a powerful politician who moved the masses and his work record made him a darling of then President Moi,” he said.
“Ndeiya Ward is highly regarded because of his contribution to its leadership and development. I am happy to see him upbeat and strong.”
The two met on Monday when the retired civic leader traveled to Mai Mahiu, where the DP was soothing and providing food to residents devastated by flooding in the area.
After a Church Service and fundraiser at the ACK St. Mark’s New Kamiti Church in Kiambu Town constituency on Sunday, Gachagua, accompanied by local MPs, went to Tiekunu village, Ndeiya Ward in Kiambu to check on Mzee Njenga, as he had promised him last Monday.
Gachagua praised Njenga for his astute leadership and development record, which he believes should be replicated at all times.
Gachagua went on to say that he learned a lot about leadership from Mzee Njenga while serving as a District Officer in Limuru, which allowed him to develop a network that helped him advance to the position of Deputy President.
“I learned from the best. You taught me when I was still young in leadership and that is the reason I am here today because I built on the leadership strategy that you taught me to become who I am today,” the DP said.
The Deputy President reiterated that through his advice and counsel, he was able to learn how to keep friends and protect them.
“One day a friend of mine was set up and I went to ask Mzee for his counsel, he told me that if I let my friend get into trouble, I would be liable and I went and thwarted the mission to save him. From then on, I knew the importance of protecting and keeping friends. I am a beneficiary of his counsel and wisdom, said the DP.
Njenga’s election
Mzee Njenga was first elected in 1974.
He also served as Deputy Chairman of Kiambu County Council, where he actively promoted multi-partyism.
He retired in 2007, after 33 years of service.
He was also a close friend of Presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi, who praised him for transforming Ndeiya by providing water and building primary and secondary schools.
On leader unity, DP Gachagua urged leaders to follow in the footsteps of Njenga, who guaranteed that during his political career, Kiambu leaders worked together to achieve greater development in the area.
“Unity is strength. At the National and County governments. If we emulate our former leaders, we can reap big from the government because when we are united, we get more development, but if we aren’t united, then it is a big challenge. And that’s why our focus today is to help President William Ruto to succeed and not to succeed him, he said.”
Honoring Njenga
The DP also committed to complete roads in Ndeiya Ward in honor of Mzee Ndung’u, as well as to guarantee that he is recognized during this year’s Jamhuri Day celebrations for his remarkable contributions to the area’s development.
He was accompanied by Limuru MP John Kiragu, National Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa, Senator Karungo Wa Thang’wa (Kiambu), Anne Wamuratha (Kiambu County MP), MPs John Machua (Kiambu), George Koimburi (Juja), Alice Ng’ang’a (Thika Town), Joseph Kahangara (Lari), James Kamau Wamacukuru (Kabete), and Wanjiru Mwangi (Nominated), among other leaders.
