Members of Meru County Assembly back ousted governor Peter Munya

By Job Weru and Kathure Mukuru

Meru, Kenya: Meru County Assembly members have declared that they will support ousted governor Peter Munya.

Sixty-five out of the assembly’s 69 members joined Munya in Nyeri on Wednesday, where they vowed to support him in his campaigns as they accused area’s MPs of being behind his woes.

South Imenti county ward representative Haji Mwendia warned that MCAs were ready for a political battle with their MPs.

“This is a warning to our MPs. They can as well start packing because we are ready to force them out,” said Mwendia.

Speaking at Nyamachaki PCEA Church Hall in Nyeri, where they converged immediately after the ruling at the Court of Appeal, the MCAs sensationally claimed that the MPs were behind Munya’s downfall as they supported the petition that saw his election nullified.

Burden of proof

“We have started a fight with our MPs, and let’s see who will win,” said Mwendia. Assembly’s Leader of Majority Ayub Bundi warned politicians against interfering with the affairs of Meru County.

“If MPs and other national leaders go against our wishes, we will mobilise people against them,” said Bundi as he hinted of a political battle between Munya’s Alliance Party of Kenya and The National Alliance (TNA).

Dr Kilemi Mwiria, who won the petition against Munya, vied on a TNA ticket. Munya, who was at the meeting, thanked Meru residents for supporting him, and promised to appeal the decision at the Supreme Court.

“I am a lawyer. I can confidently say that the Court of Appeal has set a bad precedent. It is sad that a court can place the burden of proof in an election petition to a person who won the same election. That is why we should have a hearing at the Supreme Court,” said Munya.