Meru leaders hit out at Kaimenyi and Muthaura

Some of more than 2,000 Njuri Ncheke elders from Tharaka Nithi and Meru counties sing sacred song at their Nchiru shrine in Tigania west Meru County on Saturday 20th June where they disowned a group led by education CS Prof Jacob kaimenyi that met President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House recently masquerading as Njuri Ncheke elders .they called on the president to discipline Kaimenyi for misleading him. [PHOTO/PATRICK MUTHURI/STANDARD]

Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi has said he will support the sacking of Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi.

The MP was speaking at a Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders forum held at their Nchiru shrine on Saturday, in a meeting attended by Senator Kiraitu Murungi and Governor Peter Munya.

Various leaders said they are disappointed by Prof Kaimenyi for going against the elders' rules and recognising an alleged rival faction as the genuine Ameru elders.

The leaders said Kaimenyi had betrayed the community by aligning himself with the faction led by Phares Ruteere and Paul M'Ithinkia.

Former Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura, who is also patron of the Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders, was also accused of betrayal for backing the Ruteere faction.

The two leaders had recently accompanied the alleged rival faction to meet with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi.

But, it was also not lost to observers that seven of the nine elected MPs in Meru, and all elders from Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Isiolo counties allied to Ruteere and M'Ithinkia, did not attend the meeting where all leaders in the larger Meru region were expected.

DIVISIVE POLITICS

"I am disappointed with Muthaura for taking the 'other' side to State House. The senator (Kiraitu) called for this meeting but some have not come. Those who did not come here today are enemies of the Ameru," Linturi said.

He said the President will be invited to a meeting at the shrine to greet the 'real' elders.

The MP insisted that the Linus Katheri and Josphat Murangiri group, which ousted Ruteere and M'Ithikia as secretary general and chairman respectively, are the only group mandated to speak on behalf of the Ameru community.

He said Kaimenyi was excommunicated as a Njuri elder, and was now a 'ncheege' (porcupine), meaning he is no longer recognised as a leader of the Ameru.

"Even MPs want to impeach Kaimenyi. I will tell Kenyans that as the Njuri Ncheke, we also do not want him. I will stand in Parliament and tell the President that Kaimenyi is not ours. He should appoint a replacement," Linturi said.

The leaders also said they were not against Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki's installation as an elder, but were against those who installed him (Ruteere and Ithinkia).

When contacted by The Standard, Prof Kindiki refused to comment on the meeting, but strongly defended Kaimenyi, and castigated leaders calling for his sacking.

"I am utterly disappointed to hear some of my colleagues calling for removal of our sons and daughters. I want all leaders to shun bad politics so that we can unite then reach out to other communities in Kenya," he said.