Former governors, CS line-up for 2027 race

Former Agriculture CS Peter Munya. [File, Standard]

Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya was well primed to run for the Meru Governor seat in 2022, but then he had a change of heart.

Riding on a hugely successful tenure as Agriculture CS during which he presided over beneficial reforms on tea, coffee and other areas, Mr Munya was well positioned to recapture the seat he had lost to former Governor Kiraitu Murungi in 2017, a loss he had contested in court.

Munya shocked his supporters when he withdrew from the race, saying he had struck an agreement with the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga that he would retain him as Agriculture CS in the event Raila won the presidency.

Munya devoted his time to campaigning for Raila and was convinced the presidency was Raila's.

His pre-election pact with Raila to appoint him the Agriculture and Productive Sector CS in the event he won went up in smoke when Dr Ruto won the presidency.

“I had done very well as Agriculture CS and I wanted to continue the agenda. But unfortunately, the person we wanted to be president did not get it and I missed the (CS) position,” Munya said.

Munya, Meru's first governor (2013-2017), said many of his supporters in Meru were angry when he opted not to run for governor.

The Party of National Unity (PNU) leader will be on the ballot in a race that will feature political heavyweights in former Governor Kawira Mwangaza and Mithika Linturi, also a former Agriculture CS who Ruto fired in the wake of the Gen Z demonstrations.

He points to the numerous hospitals, water, agricultural and infrastructural projects he undertook during his tenure as Governor, saying he wants to start from where he left off.

Munya said having worked as Trade CS for a year and East African Community CS for seven months had offered him opportunities to learn; hence, he was in a better position to deliver as governor.

"I want to escalate development of tea, coffee, dairy and hospital projects. I want your support for the governor's seat to enable me to continue the good work I did," he said.

On the past two occasions, the former Tigania East MP who ran for governor had picked a running mate from Igembe, but observers say he might go for someone from the vote-rich Imenti region this time around.

Among those named as potential candidates for a running mate is Abogeta West MCA Dennis 'DMK' Kiogora, who has accompanied him on a series of events in Imenti and Nyambene regions.

Governor Isaac Mutuma ascended to the seat following the impeachment of Kawira Mwangaza, and he points to numerous roads, water, health facilities and other projects in stating his case for the seat.

Mr Mutuma, a reverend in the Methodist Church in Kenya (MCK), says Linturi, Munya and Mwangaza had their time to lead, and they should let youthful and capable leaders show what they are capable of doing in terms of development.

He takes credit for big ongoing projects being undertaken in partnership with the Ruto administration, including the upgrade of Meru Level Five Hospital to a Level Six facility and the Sh1b Gakoromone Modern Market.

He has also been busy opening rural access roads and agricultural programmes such as cold storage facilities and issuance of farm inputs.

Governor Mutuma has backed President Ruto's State Lodge project, and an airstrip in part of the Imenti Forest, projects that environmentalists and a section of residents opposed.

"I want a state lodge in Meru, so that when we want to meet the president to present our development issues, we don't have to travel to other state lodges and Nairobi," he said.

Mr Linturi, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) National Organising Secretary, will be making a second stab at the seat, following the 2022 run when he vied on a UDA ticket.

Speaking when he distributed certified maize seeds in Munya's Tigania home turf, Linturi said he would offer better leadership for Meru and make agriculture a major agenda.

"Agriculture is at the heart of my agenda for Meru. By supporting farmers through certified maize seed distribution, I am promoting food security and better livelihoods. If elected governor, I will make agriculture a top priority," Linturi stated.

Both Linturi and Mutuma come from the same Igembe sub tribe, a fact that observers contend might cost one of them, or both, the seat, since it will split the vote.

Mwangaza has lodged her impeachment in the Court of Appeal and she says she will be in the race on the Umoja na Maendeleo Party (UMP) ticket, a party she formed following her ouster.

Mwangaza has attracted former elected and relatively unknown politicians in UMP, and she says she wants the voters to reject all those who ousted her.

Mwangaza, an Imenti, says she wants to build on her roads, health Care, water, agriculture

and education programmes.

She said she was in the race for Governor, a seat snatched from her by her political opponents.

"We want Meru people to elect the leaders who will be strong defenders of our constitution. Had they (opponents) been defenders of the constitution, they would not have participated in my impeachment," Mwangaza, who also endorsed Linda Mwananchi leader Edwin Sifuna for the presidency, said.

Kinoti Marete will also be on the ballot, on Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro's People's Party of Kenya (PPK).

Mr Marete, also an Imenti, had been picked by Governor Mutuma as his Land Executive, before he turned down the appointment following an uproar by a section of Mutuma's allies.

Marete, in refusing the seat, said he was doing so for the sake of unity in the county.

Marete, a businessman, said health, agriculture and youth would be his priorities should he win.

"Because of the cancer menace, we must carry out serious research to establish the causes so that we can reduce or eradicate it. I will also upgrade public hospitals to speciality-based level 5 facilities. This will encourage medical tourism and greatly improve service delivery to the residents of Meru County," he said.

He said he would also ensure an agricultural support system from mechanised farming, supply of fertiliser and production of o certified seeds.

"I will also enhance agricultural produce marketing outside the county and country and encourage contract farming because it guarantees a ready market.

Meru senator and Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi is keeping his cards close to his chest and though he had previously seemed to throw his weight behind Governor Mutuma's bid, word from a section of his supporters said he will be on the ballot.

Political analysts Mbwiri Mbursar and Prof Gitile Naituli have divergent views on the race.

"In my opinion, it is a three-horse race with Munya, Kawira if she is cleared, Linturi and another force that wants Kathuri Murungi in the race," Mr Mbursar said.

He said the people of Igembe must sit and decide who to support between Mutuma and Linturi, to avoid splitting the vote.

But Prof Naituli said Mutuma had done well as county boss so far, and opined his chances of retaining the seat come 2027 look good.

"Governor Mutuma stands on solid political ground heading into 2027. His leadership has been defined by integrity, inclusivity, and a genuine commitment to restoring dignity in public service, qualities that resonate deeply with the people of Meru. Unlike many leaders driven by theatrics, his politics is anchored in values, performance, and moral authority," said Naituli.

He added: "Politically, his calm, ethical, and development-focused style is refreshing in a noisy and polarised environment. If he sustains this momentum, staying people-centred, transparent, and unifying, his re-election chances remain very strong. The electorate today is wiser; they reward performance and authenticity, and that’s exactly where M’Ethingia has built his brand."