President Uhuru has finally intervened in the spat pitting Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and Women Representative Rachel Shebesh.
In a church service yesterday at Mwiki Deliverance Church in Kasarani Constituency, Shebesh told the congregation that she had forgiven Kidero on the allegations that she was slapped, and will withdraw the case forthwith.
“I have forgiven my brother Kidero, from next week, you will see us working together, our differences are only making our great county lag behind in development issues,” Shebesh told the cheering congregation.
She attended a thanksgiving prayer service for Mwiki Ward Representative Isaack Njoroge who escaped death narrowly after a road accident on January 24.
She said she arrived at the decision after realizing that Nairobi needs a new beginning in order for the Jubilee government to fulfill its election pledges such as slum upgrading and issuing the Nubian community with title deeds.
“I know the women who have suffered with me might not understand why I have forgiven Kidero but I want to say that forgiveness frees the heart and allows one to do much more and I hope Kidero shares the same feeling and we end this matter before the end of the week since both of us are facing criminal charges,” said Shebesh to the applause of the congregation who included over ten Members of the Nairobi County Assembly.
The Star has however learnt that President Uhuru has last week ordered his Chief of Staff, Joseph Kinyua to include Shebesh in the presidential trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where Uhuru is said to have told Shebesh that he was not amused by the ugly public spat between the two leaders.
“Uhuru warned Shebesh that she risks losing the goodwill of the public if she continues to engage in public spats with Kidero, who the president described as a personal friend of many years. The President also asked Shebesh what she wanted Nairobians to remember her for during her time in office when her term expires,” said a highly placed source, who was in the presidential entourage.
Shebesh is said to have committed to Uhuru that she will withdraw the case unconditionally immediately they land back in Nairobi.
Reacting to the news that Shebesh had pledged to work with her and withdraw the case, Kidero thanked the women representative, saying they had spoken after the church service.
“We had a lengthy talk this afternoon (Yesterday) with Hon. Shebesh and I have welcomed her gesture, I have also instructed my lawyer to withdraw the case I have against her unconditionally, ” Kidero said yesterday on phone.
He later posted on his facebook page: “With utmost sincerity & respect, I would like to thank my sister Rachel Shebesh for her forgiveness. I will continue working with her very closely in achieving the mandate for which we were elected. God Bless.”
A lawyer representing a watchman who alleges he was slapped by Shebesh last July at the Orchid Apartments in Riverside also said he will consult his client Kazungu Chagawa to also seize the opportunity and reconcile with Shebesh.
“He is out of Nairobi at the moment, but if Shebesh has a big heart enough to forgive, why cant she be forgiven, but that final decision lies with my client,” said Innocent Mugada, who is representing the watchman.
Justice Isaac Lenaola had ordered the two politicians to reconcile in terms they may think fair. He said if they are unable to reach an agreement by January 13, CID director Ndegwa Muhoro will arraign them in the magistrate court.
The two leaders moved to court to block their arrest and prosecution after failing to reconcile by January 13 deadline.
Shebesh yesterday called on women not to be ashamed of their status or positions and instead take the role of fighting tribalism saying it is only women who can help in breaking tribal barriers.
She said Nairobi leaders face the challenge of changing the way business is done and let hawkers be part and parcel of the counties business plan. She thanked the people of Nairobi for electing youthful able and committed county reps who have been the first to pass a Bill to create the Ward Development Fund and called on other counties to emulate the example.
Shebesh expressed hope that the fund where each of the 85 wards will get 15 million will not duplicate activities already undertaken by the CDF but will be channeled towards issues affecting women and the marginalized.
She called on Kenyans to reach to one another to enable the government realize this year’s theme of reconciliation and cohesion.
Source- the-star.co.ke
