Insults won’t stop me from seeking governor’s seat, Kiraitu tells Munya

Meru Governor Peter Munya (left) and Senator Kiraitu Murungi during a funds drive on March 27, 2016. Mr Murungi has rubbished Governor Munya’s calls for him to quit politics because he is old. He urged Munya to “stop petty politics.” FILE PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP.

What you need to know:

  • He challenged the Governor Munya n to account for Sh3 billion allocated to Meru County in the current financial year.
  • Murungi said he had no personal issues with Mr Munya, his former close ally turned political rival.
  • Mr Murungi is credited for huge development in Meru during his tenure in politics.
  • Together with woman representative Florence Kajuju, they have formed an outfit dubbed Kikali (Kiraitu, Kajuju, Linturi).

Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi has rubbished Governor Peter Munya’s calls for him to quit politics because he is old, saying Mr Munya should “stop petty politics.”

Instead, Mr Murungi said he was still in race for the Meru governor’s seat and promised to give Mr Munya a run for his money.

Speaking to the Nation by phone, Mr Murungi, who called for politics of development, also challenged the Council of Governors chairman to account for Sh3 billion allocated to Meru County in the current financial year.

“We don’t want to engage in petty politics and personality insults. We need issue-based politics.

“We don’t want to know whether you are old or not,” Mr Murungi said.

He added: “For Munya, the only old person in politics is Kiraitu yet Raila Odinga is older than me and I saw them eating miraa together. Let us fight on development record.”

DEVELOPMENT RECORD

Mr Murungi, who is credited for huge development in Meru during his tenure in politics said he had no personal issues with Mr Munya, his former close ally turned political rival.

Mr Murungi is also credited with the appointment of locals to senior public positions.

“What we want is to make Meru great,” Mr Murungi said.

The senator said Mr Munya, who is set to hold a rally in his (Kiraitu’s) South Imenti stronghold Saturday, should also list the projects the county government had initiated in Abogeta West in the last three years.

Mr Munya announced on Tuesday that he will hold a meeting in Abogeta West to prove he enjoys massive support in Mr Murungi’s base.

On Thursday, Mr Murungi said Mr Munya should tell how the billions channelled to Meru County had been used, especially in development if “it had not ended in his mouth.”

“Let him tell the people,” Mr Murungi added.

YET TO START CAMPAIGNS

He said he had no doubt about his decision to seek to dethrone Mr Munya as governor in the 2017 polls and that he was yet to start his campaigns.

“Munya is running in the field alone. I shall come in when the time comes. No amount of insults and personal attacks will stop me from moving forward,” he said.

On Tuesday, Mr Munya ignited a storm when he told Mr Murungi to quit politics as he is old.

He said there was no need for Mr Murungi, who served as MP for long before being elected senator, to switch to the gubernatorial seat.

Speaking in Mikinduri, Mr Munya said he was r confident of trouncing Mr Murungi if he vies against him.

He said his visit to all the 10 sub counties in Meru showed he enjoyed huge following due to his development record.

Mr Munya and Mr Murungi were close allies prior to the 2013 elections with both vying on the Alliance Party of Kenya ticket.

While Mr Murungi was the APK leader, Mr Munya was its director of elections.

The senator has, however, since announced the dissolution of APK and is the linkman in the Mt Kenya East region for the proposed Jubilee party.

FORM ANOTHER PARTY

Mr Munya has, on the hand, announced that he will form his own party following the disbandment of APK and that he will use it to seek re-election and field candidates for various seats except the presidency.

He said he would rally his supporters to back President Uhuru Kenyatta for a second term.

The Munya-Murungi rivalry has sparked supremacy battles between the Meru sub-tribes including the Imenti, Tigania and Igembe with each wanting their own to be the county boss.

Mr Murungi, whose Imenti people are the majority, also enjoys support from the majority of elected MPs from the vast county.

Mr Munya and president’s advisor Kilemi Mwiria, who also wants to be the county’s chief executive, come from the Tigania sub-tribe.

The Igembe, who together with the Tigania come from the Nyambene region which is less developed than Imenti, are expected to provide a swing vote.

Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi, who is in Mr Murungi’s camp, is eyeing the senatorial seat dubbed.

Together with woman representative Florence Kajuju, they have formed an outfit dubbed 'Kikali' (Kiraitu, Kajuju, Linturi).