I’ll not support you in 2017 polls, Meru deputy governor Raphael Muriungi tells Munya

Meru Deputy Governor Raphael Muriungi. He said he will not campaign for Governor Peter Munya as he seeks re-election in the 2017 elections. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Muriungi said he had chosen to make an independent decision on his party of choice ahead of the 2017 elections.
  • The deputy governor accused the Senate of failing to pass a law that would make the position of deputy governor "relevant."
  • He said he has been relying on his experience in politics to the create work for himself.
  • He said he will support and campaign for DP candidates in Meru.

Governor Peter Munya's bid for re-election seems to suffer a setback after his Deputy Governor Raphael Muriungi said he will not campaign for him in the 2017 polls.

Mr Muriungi, who has declared interest for the Igembe South parliamentary seat on a Democratic Party (DP) ticket, however, said he will "respect" the governor until the campaigns start.

He spoke Saturday during the opening of the DP office in Meru Town where he accompanied the party chairman Esau Kioni, vice-chairman Peter Ndubai and secretary-general Jacob Haji.

Mr Muriungi said he had chosen to make an independent decision on his party of choice ahead of the 2017 elections.

He said he chose DP since he served as its secretary-general of Nyambene branch.

"I am not proud to be a deputy governor because the position is not well defined in the Constitution. I chose to go back to parliament where my leadership will be felt by the people," Mr Muriungi said.

NO WORK FOR DEPUTY GOVERNORS

The deputy governor accused the Senate of failing to pass a law that would make the position of Deputy Governor "relevant."

"As a deputy governor, you work at the whims of the governor. The deputy governor's office has no budget. There is no satisfaction in the office. If you are not an experienced politician, you may end up spending the day reading newspapers in the office," Mr Muriungi said.

He said he has been relying on his experience in politics to the create work for himself.

He said he will support and campaign for DP candidates in Meru.

"In politics, you do not show sympathy [to] anyone. Since I am a mature politician, I chose to make an independent choice. Meanwhile, I will not do anything to upset the governor,” he said.

Mr Munya is facing a strong opposition in the race to for re-election from his former ally who has now turned to a political foe, Senator Kiraitu Murungi.

Presidential advisor on education Kilemi Mwiria is also eyeing the seat which he narrowly lost to Mr Munya in 2013.

MUNYA SCOFFS AT DEPUTY

However, speaking by phone, Mr Munya dismissed his deputy's move, saying he did not need Mr Muriungi to campaign for him.

He said Mr Muriungi could have failed to join him in PNU because there were other strong candidates.

He expressed confidence that he would recapture his seat due to his huge development projects across the county.

"The people are firmly with me," Mr Munya said.