Munya snubs Jubilee Party of Kenya, set to form new party

Meru Governor Peter Munya [PHOTO: FIDELIS KABUNYI/STANDARD]

Meru Governor Peter Munya will form a political party by December, on whose ticket he will seek re-election in 2017.

Mr Munya said a new party for Meru, and Mount Kenya East region, will enhance the region’s political prospects.

Speaking at St Cecilia Catholic Church in Ntima West at the weekend, the governor insisted he would not join the Jubilee Party of Kenya (JPK) or any other party.

Mr Munya took a swipe at those behind plans to disband the Alliance Party of Kenya (APK), which is led by Senator Kiraitu Murungi, saying they will be left with no choice but to form an alternative party.

“For what reason is our party being disbanded, yet we built it to advance Meru interests? We want to make a strong political statement. Plans to disband APK and lead us to another party are useless,” said Munya.

He said plans to form an umbrella party are suspect.

“It is an agenda meant to stifle democracy. Candidates should compete and voters be given options because they have a democratic right to choose their leaders,” Munya said.

“You can’t be forced to join one party. Nobody will force it down our throats. Kenyans have the freedom of association, and plans to dissolve parties to form one, will defeat democracy,” he added.

 He said the new party to be unveiled in December, will offer candidates an opportunity to run for political seats.

“We are in the process of forming a new party for Meru, and the whole of Mount Kenya East region. We will strive to reach out to other parts of the country. I will run for governor on the nee party’s ticket. I won’t join another party,” Munya proclaimed, but stressed he would support President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2017.

He said there are many people interested in political seats, and they must be given options. “In 2022, we will enter the political arena,” Munya said, appearing to welcome ideas that he run for president in 2022.

Salesion Mutea, a community leader and Samson Thuranira, the Ntima West MCA, urged Munya to run for president in 2022.