Meru Governor Peter Munya teams up with Kilemi Mwiria

From left: Former Ntonyiri MP Maoka Maore, Tigania West MP David Kariithi and Meru Governor Peter Munya, during a fundraiser at Nyambene Girls High School, on Saturday

Meru Governor Peter Munya has joined forces with his 2013 challenger, Kilemi Mwiria.

This is in a bid to ward off opposition from the team comprising Kiraitu Murungi (Senator), Florence Kajuju (Woman representative) and Mithika Linturi (Igembe South MP).

Mr Munya and Dr Mwiria, the presidential adviser on education, have been political rivals for a long time, both coming from the Tigania region.

The two buried the hatchet during a fundraiser at Nyambene Girls High School, Tigania on Saturday. They said they would work together to ensure Tigania retains the governor's seat.

"He (Mwiria) bruised me in a court case but I have no grudge against him. Mwiria and I do not have anything against each other. I understand him because we were both fighting to be governor," Munya said.

The Council of Governors chairman said even though he was now at the helm, there was no need for bad blood because Mwiria had also secured a major post as a presidential adviser.

The county chief said he would work with Mwiria to ensure he was re-elected.

"There are others who want this seat. I need your support because you already advise the country's top leadership (the presidency). The two of us need to talk and work together," Munya said.

Mwiria said he had already accepted that Munya won the petition that he filed against Munya in 2013.

"We fought in the election and went to court. The court ruled I had been defeated and I accepted. Now it is those who were his (Munya's) friends who are fighting him," Mwiria said.

 "What I don't understand is that Munya's friends are now saying he is bad. How come when elections are approaching they say he is bad. When I fought Munya it is they who were helping Munya to fight me. They had always said Munya is good but now they have changed the tune," he said.

 He said the political fight between Kiraitu and Munya, who were allies in 2013, was over a 'cheque' book.

 "They thought the cheque book was in Nairobi, only to discover it was brought to Meru because of devolution. They have seen the funds are not in Nairobi!" Mwiria said.

 The two leaders agreed the governor's seat should remain in Tigania. "The people in Kikali have taken a Tigania as deputy governor. The governor's seat already is in Tigania. If they had supported Ntuchiu to take the governor's seat I would not have vied against him," said Mwiria, a former MP for Tigania West.

Kiraitu has named Stantech Motors boss Titus Ntuchiu, who hails from Tigania West, as his running mate in 2017.

Tigania West MP David Kariithi criticised those plotting to oust Munya, saying Tigania cannot accept a lesser seat (deputy governor).

 Former Ntonyiri MP Maoka Maore said he would be on Munya's side as he braces for what could be his biggest political fight yet.

 Munya said he would support President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto in 2017. "Those peddling propaganda should stop," Munya said.