Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok and his Kitui counterpart Charity Ngilu on Sunday, December 12, traded barbs for calling William Ruto ‘Mganga.’
Deputy President William Ruto was last week in Turkana for a two-day visit for a political rally and the Turkana Tourism and Cultural Festival where he presided over the sixth edition of the Turkana Cultural Festival known as Tobong’ulore (Welcome Back Home).
In a photo posted on Twitter, Ruto who has been referring to ODM leader Raila Odinga as ‘Mganga’ was seen dressed in Turkana regalia seated inside the traditional hut and surrounded by two Turkana elders donned in traditional regalia.
Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu later made fun of him for donning cultural regalia wondering how he ‘would still refer to people as waganga’.
“And he will still refer to others as Waganga. Earth is hard,” Ngilu captioned.
This did not settle well with Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok who challenged Ngilu not to criticize other people’s cultures especially that of Turkana saying it is a pathway to cohesion, peace, and development.
“Do not disparage culture; it’s a pathway to our cohesion, peace, and development. I am glad Ruto respects culture and will promote, protect it,” Nanok said.
While defending the deputy president, Nanok further explained that Turkana culture called Tobong’u Lore is an environmentally friendly homestead hut used by women and children.
“Where is ugang’a here? Turkana environmental friendly homestead, hut used by women and children is one of our key material cultures,” Governor Nanok hit back at Charity Ngilu.
Last month, Governor Ngilu revealed that she usually turns off her television set whenever William Ruto is talking in what appeared to further widen her rift with the second in command.
“I am shocked when I see this guy (William Ruto). I always switch off. When he appears on Citizen TV, I wonder what is this…I switch off until he is done,” said governor Ngilu said during Azimio la Umoja campaign in Makunei County.
