Why the Ameru are likely to vote ‘No’ in the referendum

By Maore Ithula

If the vote for the Proposed Constitution were to be held today, many people from the larger Meru region would cast their ballots against the document.

Opinion leaders at the grassroots told The Standard on Sunday last week that whereas other Kenyans who may express displeasure with the proposed law base their stand on the inclusion of Kadhi courts, abortion clause and the land policy, the Ameru reservations are unique.

For instance, Mr Stanley Thiaine, a businessman in Maua and a political kingmaker in Igembe South, is spending most of his time, energy and resources campaigning against the draft because the document creates a Meru County, which encompasses Imenti, Tigania, and Igembe sub-tribes of the larger community.

His argument is that Imenti people are likely to overshadow the people of Nyambene (Tigania and Igembe).

The same sentiments are shared by Kobia Kirera, a businessman in Ntonyiri (the current Igembe North constituency).

The two businessmen are respected opinion shapers in the two constituencies and few politicians would want to cross their path.

Among the people of Nyambene, the fear of being lumped together with their Imenti cousins is so intense that many residents sympathetic to the ‘Yes’ side in the coming referendum fear talking in public lest they be branded traitors.

Says Thiaine: "Whether the ‘Yes’ wins or we, (‘No’) team, win, we will ensure people of Nyambene have made their point clear: That we cannot work with the people of Imenti, who seem to have little regard for the people of Nyambene. We want our own county as members of Nyambene region."

Kirera concurs: "There may be other issues in the draft that are contentious to other Kenyans. We would have appealed to the people of this region to make a different decision if we were not being lumped together with people of Imenti. We believe Nyambene is large and populous enough to be a county."

Local support

And to turn around the wave that is likely to embarrass President Kibaki who enjoys local support, top politicians led by Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi two weeks ago passed what was later christened the ‘Nchiru Declaration’. ‘Yes’ politicians from the region agreed the headquarters of the proposed Meru County be located at Nchiru market, next to Njuri Ncheke shrine outside Kianjai market.

Thiaine says having the headquarters in Nyambene "will be like treating the symptoms and leaving the disease because (sic) people of Imenti are too proud to work with their cousins of Nyambene".

However, local leaders say their stand has nothing to do with the 2012 General Election.

Cyprian Kubai, a Mau based businessman and a ‘Yes’ campaigner, says although the wave of ‘No’ in the area cannot be ignored, Prime Minister Raila Odinga would garner majority presidential votes if the General Election were to be held today.

Says Kubai: "There is no Raila phobia in this area."

Cocktail of reasons

The political mood in Imenti is also ‘No’ but for another cocktail of reasons.

Some residents of Imenti are apprehensive of the Proposed Constitution not because of the three contentious issues, but for fear of Raila. For others it is driven by both.

Says Alice Gacheri, a bookshop owner in Meru town: "I will vote ‘No’ because Raila says ‘Yes’. I do not care about the contentious issues or where the draft says the Meru County headquarters would be situated."

Mr Gitonga Igweta, a matatu operator in Nkubu market has a problem with the contentious issues in the draft and Raila’s support for the draft.

He says: "I am against the draft but I’m not sure whether I would vote ‘No’ if Raila was of the same opinion."

The situation in Tharaka Nithi District is different. The district is set to be an independent county if the Proposed Constitution is passed. People in the district are split. There are those who do not mind a change of governing laws in whatever State that they might be.

One group is fretting Raila-phobia while the other is influenced by the fear of the unknown.

"Many people that I meet here and Ciokarige town are for the ‘Yes’ group. However there are those who are Government employees in ministries and departments that are bloated. Many are not sure whether they will survive a change of guard at the top come 2012, coupled with a change of laws after the August 4 referendum," says Oswald Gitari, a lawyer in Chuka.