Kiraitu, Munya supremacy war threatens to derail county projects

Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi (right) and Governor Peter Munya

The supremacy war between Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi and Governor Peter Munya is set to intensify over fight for the governorship.

The split is threatening to divide the Nyambene region (Munya’s home) and Imenti (Kiraitu’s turf), down the middle. However, Kiraitu has not publicly declared he will run for governor.

“Over the last couple of months I have been under intense pressure from the electorate to run for the gubernatorial seat. My response has consistently been the same, that I am still listening to different opinions and I will make an informed decision soon,” Kiraitu wrote on his Facebook page recently.

“I am a leader who believes in consultation and not confrontation. It is in this regard that I wish to inform my people that I will be visiting all the nine constituencies of Meru come next year to listen to them and their opinions over various issues affecting our county,” he wrote.

Kiraitu irked the governor after he opposed the proposal to tarmac 150km of road in Meru using the Malaysian Probase technology over claims it is unconstitutional, expensive and shrouded in secrecy. Munya has claimed that the senator wants to sabotage the project to use it as a campaign tool against the county government. “His opposition to our proposal to do the 150km is motivated by politics. If I build roads and all other development projects I have initiated, what reasons will he give for vying for the position of governor of Meru,” Munya told The Standard on Sunday.

Mount Kenya Parliamentarians’ meeting at Heritage Hotel in Nkubu in September further complicated matters for the Munya when Kiraitu indicated he wished to serve the Meru people ‘closer home.’ The governor skipped the meeting.

It was at that forum, also attended by Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti (APK deputy leader) and Prof Kindiki kithure that Kiraitu announced the decision to dissolve the ‘Bus’ party.

Dissolve our parties

The senator also declared that he would back Prof Kithure and others to take the community forward’ “It is a turning point in Mount Kenya East politics. We have made a wise decision to dissolve our parties, as we support President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto in 2017 and 2022,” said Kiraitu.

MPs Rahim Dawood, Florence Kajuju, Mpuru Aburi and Kubai Kiringo appeared to endorse Kiraitu for the governor’s seat in 2017.

“There is no transparency in his government. In my constituency, Kenya Rural Roads Authority have done the 1km Kianjuri-Gachiege road, at Sh6 million. The 1km Coca-Cola-Sports Club road near town, will cost between Sh6 to Sh8 million. We don’t understand why the Ikm of Probase costs Sh49 million,” Dawood argued.

Alhaji Mwendia, an APK nominated MCA, and Kiraitu’s ally, told The Standard on Sunday that the senator will go for Munya’s seat. “I can tell you, with total certainty that the senator will vie for the governor’s position in 2017. Munya is confrontational and is not working with the senator, MPs, and over half of MCAs,” claimed Mr Mwendia.

But Tigania West MP David Kariithi and MCAs George Kaliunga and Romano Mwito asked Kiraitu to let Munya run the county. “We had an agreement that Imenti would have the senator and Nyambene the governor. It should stay like that for 10 years, after which we will review,” said the MP.

“Kiraitu helped construct roads in Imenti South when he was in power, leaving Nyambene out. We have no roads, so why is he opposed to probase that would make it possible for us to have roads,” posed Kaliunga. Munya has declared he will not seek reelection on APK ticket. Recently, he convened an APK delegates meeting to discuss Kiraitu’s plan to dissolve it. However, the senator said the governor had no power to convene the meeting.