Locals to withdraw support for Jubilee over false promises

Meru Central leaders at the proposed site for construction of Mariene University Colle, yesterday. [PHOTO: PETER MUTHOMI/STANDARD]

Leaders and elders of Meru Central have threatened to withdraw their support for Jubilee unless government honours its promise to set up a university in the sub-county.

Work on the proposed Mariene University College is yet to start two years after President Uhuru Kenyatta made the pledge, which has angered the Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders.

The university was to be constructed on a 10-acre land that was to be hived off the 57 acres on which the Coffee Research Institute in Abothuguchi Central currently sits.

MCAs Ayub Bundi (Abothuguchi Central), Julius Mbijjiwe (Mwanganthia) and Richard Mwangi (Kiagu) joined the elders and residents on a tour of the site and expressed disappointment over the failure by the government to start the project.

They gave the government two weeks to give the way forward failure to which they would resort to protests. The leaders lamented that South Imenti, North Imenti, Tigania West and Igembe Central sub-counties all have universities apart from them.

“Just like other areas, Meru Central must have a university. This was a promise by the President and his deputy and we hope they honour it,” said Bundi. Mbijjiwe said support of residents for the Jubilee Government in the 2017 elections would depend on whether they get the university or not.