Munya takes battle for Meru to Kiraitu's homeground

Meru Governor Peter Munya dances with traditional dancers at Murungurune Village, birthplace of his rival Kiraitu Murungi where he led a fundraiser and political rally on May 28, 2016. PHOTO | LUCAS BARASA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Prior to the polls, local leaders agreed that the Nyambene region where Mr Munya and Mr Mwiria hail from should produce a governor while a senator should come from Imenti.
  • The pact, which Tigania West MP David Karithi says was supposed to last for 10 years, a thing that could have blocked Mr Murungi from vying against Mr Munya in 2017, has since been broken.
  • Mr Murungi is an ardent Jubilee government supporter, a thing he says is crucial to enable locals benefit from more goodies from the ruling coalition.

Meru Governor Peter Munya takes his battle with Senator Kiraitu Murungi for voters to the latter’s backyard on Saturday.

Mr Munya will be in Abogeta West for what he terms a “major” political rally to show that he enjoys support even in Mr Murungi’s birthplace.

The two topmost Meru politicians are engaged in a bitter battle for support ahead of next year’s General Election.

This follows Mr Murungi’s entry into the Meru gubernatorial race.

Mr Murungi’s supporters believe it is his closeness with Mr Munya prior to 2013 polls that enabled the governor to win against presidential advisor Kilemi Mwiria in the tough contest.

Prior to the polls, local leaders agreed that the Nyambene region where Mr Munya and Mr Mwiria hail from should produce a governor while a senator should come from Imenti.

It is for that reason that Mr Murungi vied against lawyer Gitobu Imanyara, also from Imenti for the Senatorial seat and easily trounced him. Both Mr Munya and Dr Mwiria are from the Tigania sub-tribe.

The pact, which Tigania West MP David Karithi says was supposed to last for 10 years, a thing that could have blocked Mr Murungi from vying against Mr Munya in 2017, has since been broken.

Both Mr Murungi and Mr Munya, who are former close allies turned political foes, contested on Alliance Party of Kenya ticket in 2013.

The senator has, however, announced the dissolution of APK in which he was the party leader and instead led his supporters to the Jubilee Party.

Mr Munya, who was APK director of elections, has however vowed to form his own party for his re-election bid but support President Uhuru Kenyatta for a second term.

Mr Murungi is an ardent Jubilee government supporter, a thing he says is crucial to enable locals benefit from more goodies from the ruling coalition.
However, Mr Munya who is the Council of Governors chairman has been a thorn in the flesh of Kenyatta administration by keeping it on its toes over its promises to Meru residents, some of which he says have remained unfulfilled.

Mr Munya has also led governors in agitating for more resources to be taken to the grassroots and has stood firm in protection of devolution of which the Jubilee regime has been accused of strangling.

On Thursday, Mr Murungi challenged Mr Munya to tell South Imenti residents what the county government had done for them in the past three years in terms of development.

He said the governor should also account for Sh3 billion allocated to Meru county this financial year.

He trashed Mr Munya’s calls for him to quit politics on account of his "old" age.