Meru caucus stalls as mistrust reigns

By MOSES NJAGIH

Unending suspicion among the Meru sub-tribes is killing the dreams of the Mt Kenya East Political Caucus, a month after it was formed to champion community interests.

The caucus launched with pomp on the eve of the New Year is wading through turbulent waters, with some of its former proponents terming its inception a stillbirth.

Politicians from Embu, Tharaka Nithi, and Meru counties formed the political caucus as a platform to consolidate the region’s 1.2 million votes.

Those behind it wanted to use votes as bargaining power as they engage various presidential aspirants ahead of the General Election.

The proponents believe if they could get the region’s voters under a single political movement, and possibly one party, they could use the numbers as a bargaining chip and enter into a pre-election pact with a preferred candidate to develop the region.

Tourism Assistant Minister Cecily Mbarire and Siakago MP Lenny Kivuti, who have been strong proponents of the caucus, argue the group was meant to ensure that the sub-region was heading towards a "common political end".

Seeking identity

The group also wanted to form a political grouping o help the sub-region stand on its own, and help it get an identity away from their Kikuyu cousins, with whom they have stood under the Gikuyu, Embu and Meru Association (Gema) caucus.

"The focus was on having a credible and recognisable unit, pulling everyone together irrespective of their parties," argued Kivuti.

He says the three counties, which have 13 constituencies, are estimated to have 1.5 million voters.

"This is a number that no serious presidential candidate can ignore. Our reasoning was that we could get into an understanding with one candidate before the elections and bargain for our area’s interests," said the Siakago MP.

Mbarire says the caucus leaders wanted it to identify with the G7 Alliance leaders Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto, and Kalonzo Musyoka.

However, the MP argues that this does not mean the caucus will not listen to other presidential aspirants, saying the interest of the region was to go for the best bidder, in terms of who offers them the best promises.

"We feel our numbers are big enough to make us be felt independently from our Kikuyu cousins and that is why we want our solid identity through the caucus," said the Runyenjes MP.

But the realisation of the dreams looks unlikely following the mistrust by some Meru sub-tribes, who view the grouping cynically.

Agriculture Assistant Minister Kareke Mbiuki says while the formation of the caucus looked noble, it has since been established some politicians wanted to use it for selfish interests.

"We have since realised there are people who want to hawk the 1.2 votes to the highest bidder for their political interests. They want to use these numbers to raise their stakes in bargains," said Mbiuki.

The Nithi MP says the rest of Meru sub-tribes were largely feeling uncomfortable with the ‘champion’ of the movement, Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi. He says Kiraitu is treated with suspicion over the alleged skewed distribution of goodies in Meru.

Mbiuki says there is resentment by other Meru sub-tribes against the Imentis and by extension Kiraitu’s leadership. They feel the sub-tribe has been favoured.

The assistant minister says it is this same resentment that has stalled the sale of the Alliance Party (formerly known as PNU Alliance) in Meru, as it is viewed as a Kiraitu project.

"Much as the idea is good (of forming the political caucus), it has apparently become impossible to sell the idea. It is difficult for us to go in one bus, by trusting the Imentis," he says.

Sub-tribes

Other Meru sub-tribes are Tharaka, Mwimbi, Chuka, Tigania and Igembe. The Nithi MP says there is a feeling among the sub-communities that the Imentis, through the influence of Kiraitu, have gained the most in Government projects and State appointments.

He says the other sub-tribes are keen to avoid falling into machination of the Imentis through Kiraitu.

Mbiuki says: "The idea was to get the sub-region into what has been referred to as the bus (Alliance Party). Unfortunately, this bus has no driver and the passengers have been suffocating inside it at the bus stage".

Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi says after the launch of the caucus, some politicians were hijacking the idea.

"The caucus had good intentions, but we realised one or two individuals wanted to rally people from the region to achieve certain selfish interests. We became apprehensive of the way Kiraitu hijacked the idea," said Linturi.

Residents of the region are waiting to see whether the activities of the political caucus will take off.