Kiraitu scoffs at Munya’s bid for presidency in 2022 polls
What you need to know:
- Murungi challenged Mr Munya to run for the top seat in the 2017 elections “if he thinks he is popular”.
- He said Mr Munya is afraid of nominations in Jubilee, hence his decision to run to small parties, where he can compete with no one.
- The senator has crossed swords with Mr Munya after announcing he will contest the Meru governor’s seat in 2017.
- Mr Munya has said he will form his own party following Mr Murungi's decision to dissolve the Alliance Party of Kenya, the election vehicle for both politicians in 2013.
Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi has scoffed at Governor Peter Munya’s announcement that he will vie for the presidency in 2022, saying this was a joke.
“Anybody, including an MCA, can announce his interest [in] the presidency because it does not cost anything,” said Mr Murungi.
“Many people have in the past announced they would vie for the presidency but did they become presidents? They include politicians James Orengo, Koigi wa Wamwere, Charity Ngilu and Martha Karua,” said the senator.
He challenged Mr Munya to run for the top seat in the 2017 elections “if he thinks he is popular”.
“He should vie so that we can see how many votes he will win,” said Mr Murungi.
He spoke to the Nation on Sunday before attending Mass at the Kanyakine Catholic Church in Meru.
“Being elected Council of Governors chairman by his colleagues does not mean he is popular,” said Mr Murungi.
The senator has crossed swords with Mr Munya after announcing he will contest the Meru governor’s seat in 2017.
“Munya’s announcement of his presidential candidature in 2022 is just a gimmick to make himself appear important, and fool the people so that he can be elected governor in 2017,” said Mr Murungi.
AFRAID OF JUBILEE NOMINATIONS
The lawmaker said Mr Munya is afraid of nominations in Jubilee, hence his decision to run to small parties where he can compete with no one.
He called for issue-based, development politics.
Reacting to Mr Munya’s claims that a third of money allocated to Meru County goes to development, the senator said the governor should list development projects initiated using the cash.
“He should publish how Sh7.5 billion given to the county in the 2015/2016 financial year was used.
“He should explain to the people of Meru how the money was spent because the financial year is coming to an end,” said Mr Murungi.
He said reports indicate that of the Sh3 billion meant for development in the current financial year, only Sh45 million had been used by April.
Mr Munya has said he will form his own party following Mr Murungi's decision to dissolve the Alliance Party of Kenya, the election vehicle for both politicians in 2013.
He said he would use the party to field candidates except for the presidency in 2017, as his followers would support President Uhuru Kenyatta's expected re-election bid.
