Meru Governor Peter Munya to run for presidency in 2022 on a new political party

Meru Governor Peter Munya. [PHOTO: MARTIN MWENDA/STANDARD]

Meru Governor Peter Munya has said he will run for presidency in the 2022 elections through a political party to be unveiled soon.

Making the announcement when he distributed foodstuff, clothes and other items to poor families, the Council of Governors (CoG) chairman said he would not be seeking to become a running mate for anybody as he was also qualified to become president.

"The party we will form is to enable us go for the presidency. That is our focus," said Munya, who was accompanied by Deputy Governor Raphael Muriungi and other county officials.

He said the formation of the Jubilee Party had necessitated him and other like-minded politicians in Mt Kenya East to consider an alternative party that would champion their interests.

"JP has its owner who also wants the number one position. So we cannot go there because we also want the same seat. So in 2017 we will vote for President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto for them to have another term," said Mr Munya who also appealed to the Jubilee Government to fulfil the pledges made to Meru people.

"They made many promises, such as the Mati road which has stalled. We have also been asking them to help us deal with the ban on miraa by the United Kingdom and Netherlands," he said.

Munya said the national government should engage the World Trade Organisation to resolve the miraa ban.

"The county government cannot solve the problem. Only the Kenyan Government can engage the UK government because it is an international issue," Munya said, and asked President Kenyatta to direct Foreign Affairs minister Amina Mohammed to look into the issue, since international trade laws say there should be free flow of products between nations.

Separately, Ichenga Mugao, the political advisor of Tharaka Nithi Governor Samuel Ragwa, yesterday lauded Munya for declaring his presidential ambitions.

"It takes political guts for a politician to say he will go for the highest seat in the land when other major political leaders in Mt Kenya East are only thinking of deputising others," said Mr Ichenga.

He said past declaration by area leaders that they wanted to deputise William Ruto in 2022 had created a wrong perception that Mt Kenya East was not capable of producing a presidential candidate.

Ichenga, who has declared intentions to challenge Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki for the Tharaka Nithi Senate seat next year, urged the Jubilee Party to remove the perception that it was out to isolate governors.