Deputy President William Ruto visit to Meru may have stoked controversy and raised political temperatures

Deputy President William Ruto has been making inroads in Meru. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

By JOB WERU

Nairobi, Kenya: Unknown to him, Deputy President William Ruto last week’s visit to Meru may have stoked controversy and raised political temperatures in the populous county.

Critics have interpreted the visit as a campaign for Dr Kilemi Mwiria, who unless the Supreme Court quashes a Court of Appeal ruling to nullify the election of Governor Peter Munya, is expected to battle it out again in the ballot with the former.

Political temperatures seem to be heightening in the county, which is a darling of almost all politicians eyeing the presidency due to its load of voters.

Last weekend, Ruto made a three-day visit to the Tharaka Nithi and Meru counties, where he attended meetings in Chuka, Tharaka and Meru. But supporters of Governor Munya were not at ease with the visit, which they saw as a campaign launch for Mwiria.

Martin Bikuri, a supporter of Munya, wondered why the Deputy President made his visit just a few days after the Court of Appeal nullified Munya’s election.

He sensationally claimed that the trip was scheduled for one week before the ruling, but the DP decided to visit immediately after the ruling was delivered, inadvertently to support Mwiria.

Munya was facing it off with Mwiria during the March 2013 General Election, where the Alliance Party of Kenya (APK), which is commonly known as ‘Bus’ party, trounced President Uhuru Kenyatta’s The National Alliance Party (TNA) in the region’s gubernatorial position.

“Everybody also understands that Munya is one of the youngest and most vocal Meru leaders, and they could use this chance to crown other leaders who can be intimidated by the local MPs, who Munya has tamed,” said Bikuri.

Bikuri says it would be improbable for Senator Kiraitu Murungi to run in 2023 General Election due to his age, and Munya is seen as the local leader who would clinch the Meru political kingpin position.

“But MPs are now trying to crown Kindiki Kithure, since Munya has proved hard to manipulate. They have now waged war against Munya, and are ready to ensure he falls,” he said, adding that claims that Ruto is flexing his political muscle ahead of the 2023 election is real, and he intends to woe the region by picking a running mate from there.

“He is trying to pick a running mate from the region ahead of 2023 elections. He knows that Meru alone can bag him 850,000 votes, while when combined with the neighbouring Tharaka Nithi County (which Kithure represents in the Senate), would add up to more than one million votes,” said Bikuri.

Parted ways

So far, Munya has parted ways with almost all Meru MPs, and it appears that the legislators would shift their support in case of a by-election to Mwiria.

He says a by-election would result into a battle between the MPs and the County Assembly members, noting that after the nullification of Munya’s election, MCAs joined the embattled Governor at Nyamachaki PCEA Hall in Nyeri, where they pledged to back him.

During the meeting, 65 of the assembly’s 69 members vowed to support him in his campaigns, as they accused local MPs of being behind woes facing Munya. Al Haji Mwendia from South Imenti warned that the County Assembly members were ready for a political battle with their MPs.

“This is a warning to our MPs. They can as well start parking because we are ready to force them out,” said Mwendia.

Similarly, the members sensationally claimed that local MPs had been behind Munya’s downfall, especially financing the cost of the petition. Munya, who is the former Tigania MP, has not been in very flowery terms with elected MPs in the region and has regularly been demanding that they be transparent over the usage of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in their areas. At the same time, barely two MPs; Rahim Dawood-who appear Munya’s worst critic, and Gideon Mwiti of Imenti Central, were elected on the Governor’s APK party.

Mpuri Aburi (Tigania East) and Kubai Kiringo (Igembe Central) were elected on ODM ticket, while others are TNA MPs.

Aburi used to faceoff with Munya for Tigania East MP’s seat, while Dawood’s opposition could be fetched from the county government’s action to demolish business kiosks and stalls in Meru town, which he represents.

“We have started a fight with our MPs and let us see who will win,” said the MCAs. Assembly’s Leader of Majority Ayub Bundi warned President Kenyatta, Ruto and Kithure against interfering with the affairs of Meru County.