Governor Munya and Senator Murungi in war of words at religious function

Meru Governor Peter Munya (left) with Senator Kiraitu Murungi during the Meru Catholic Diocese Family Day and fundraiser, Saturday. [PHOTO: PHARES MUTEMBEI/STANDARD]

Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi clashed with Governor Peter Munya when they met at a public function yesterday.

The two leaders have not met in public since Kiraitu announced his intentions to unseat Munya but their first meeting yesterday was not cordial.

The two leaders differed sharply over plans to dissolve Jubilee parties and have them amalgamate with the soon-to-be-launched Jubilee Party. They also differed on the achievement of the county government.

They met during the Meru Catholic Diocese’s Family Day celebrations at Consolata Primary School.

Kiraitu, who was accompanied by Igembe North MP Mithika Linturi, Woman Rep Florence Kajuju, Assembly Deputy Speaker Gideon Kimathi and two other MCAs, told Munya that he and area MPs did not think there had been much development in the county.

Kiraitu asked Munya to explain to the hundreds of the faithful how Sh7.5 billion the county government was allocated by the National Treasury last year was spent.

The senator said he would be better equipped than Munya to develop the county.

The Master of Ceremony, Julius Kimathi, who is also Munya’s County Secretary, had given the microphone to Kiraitu to address the gathering before the governor spoke

“Governor Munya could be doing his best now, but I can do better,” Kiraitu said.

Supporters of both politicians cheered whenever, Kiraitu and Munya tried to browbeat each other.

“He will speak after me. I want him to explain to how Sh7.5 billion from the national government was spent. The Sh4.5 billion was for recurrent expenditure, but Sh3 billion was for development in all our 45 wards. Let him explain how much is spent when doing dispensaries or buying (water) pipes,” Kiraitu said.

Kiraitu, while addressing the Council of Governors chairman, said he, Linturi, Kajuju and other MPs had teamed up to form “Kikali”, an acronym for Kiraitu, Kajuju and Linturi to unseat Munya and his team.

“Our job is to make Merus, where ever they are, great. One person cannot do it, he has to work with others. But the Meru governor is working alone. So Bishop, pray for him so that he can work with others,” Kiraitu told Meru Catholic Diocese Bishop Salesius Mugambi.

“I am looking for the job (governorship) in 2017 not because of anything else but because I believe I can do better,” Kiraitu said while urging residents and all aspirants to support the Jubilee Party.

“Let’s not be politically foolish, we have to see where we are going. On August 8, 2017, Uhuru (Kenyatta) will be President and Ruto his deputy. Because Ruto supported Uhuru in 2013 and will support him again in 2017, we have agreed to return the favour in 2022,” Kiraitu said, and urged Munya’s Lands Executive Martin Bikuri, the county secretary and others who announced they will gun for parliamentary seats, to seek JP’s nomination tickets.

“I was Bus (Alliance Party of Kenya) driver but now I pray I will be driving the JP train. Kimathi (county secretary, Bikuri and all aspirants) should seek JP nomination,” he said.

When he stood up to address the meeting, Munya did not take Kiraitu’s criticism lying down.

Munya denied claims he had not fulfilled his election pledges, saying projects by his administration were evident everywhere.

He accused Kiraitu and Linturi of resisting his efforts to distribute medical equipment to hospitals.

Linturi had earlier claimed Munya was planning to give Maua hospital (in Linturi’s constituency) second-hand equipment, but Munya accused him and Kiraitu of frustrating his work.

“Mithika and the senator called a press conference and refused the equipment. Second-hand equipment are better than nothing,” Munya said.

“I am employed by residents just like you. They are strangers in Jerusalem if they cannot see development everywhere,” Munya said.

He vowed he would not join the Jubilee Party, and asked forces bent on sabotaging his takeover of the Party of National Unity (PNU) to keep off the political party’s affairs.

Munya said he cannot join Jubilee because he can be rigged out even if he wins.

Buuri MP Gatobu Kinoti was also in attendance.