Meru leaders agree to bury the hatchet ahead of Uhuru Kenyatta visit

President Uhuru Kenyatta will issue 200,000 title deeds to Meru residents during his visit to the county Friday.

At the same time, Meru MPs met in Nairobi on Wednesday and agreed to not only bury their political differences ahead of President Kenyatta's visit but also ensure locals give him a rousing welcome and ensure his tour is a success, Senator Kiraitu Murungi told the Nation.

State House official Munyori Buku said during his two day visit, President Kenyatta "will issue 200,000 title deeds, launch a 180km new road construction programme and some irrigation projects."

"On Friday, the visit begins at Marima Agricultural Institute where he will launch the construction of a road. He will then head to Nkubu, Kariene and Meru town. At Kariene, he will open a fresh produce market and in Meru Town launch road construction," Mr Buku said in a press invite to the media.

He added: "From Meru town, the President will stop over at Gakoromone where he will start the building of a bypass. The next stop will be Kirua where President Kenyatta will issue title deeds. The final venue of the first day will be a stopover at Timau."
Mr Buku said President Kenyatta will on Saturday start his visit at Mikinduri in Tigania East.

He will later fly to Mutuati in Igembe North where he will address residents and issue title deeds.

POLITICAL WRANGLES

The President will also visit Maili Tatu before visiting Maua where he will also issue title deeds.

President Kenyatta's visit is seen in some quarters as a bid to end political wrangles in the region.

Speaking to the Nation by phone, Mr Murungi said Meru MPs, who have in the recent past been divided over various issues, met in Nairobi and agreed to work together.

He said both the leaders and Meru residents have great expectations about the Head of State's visit and that he would be welcomed by mammoth crowds "wherever he passes.”

It would be the first time President Kenyatta would be touring the county since he was elected to office in 2013.

He said that the tarmac roads to be launched by the President would cut across all the nine sub-counties in Meru.

The President, the senator added, would also launch three major dams to supply water for irrigation to dry areas of the county.

The Head of State is to further address the problems facing miraa and tea farmers in the vote rich county, Mr Murungi said.

"All MPs from Meru have agreed to work as we all support the President irrespective of our parties. Meru leaders have agreed to unite ahead of the President's visit," the Senator said.

Governor Peter Munya, who has been at loggerheads with some local MPs over his stand on referendum to take more resources to grassroots and his opposition to the new Jubilee Alliance Party, has promised to ensure the President’s visit is a success.
“I am asking the people of Meru to welcome President Kenyatta during his tour this week. We respect the President because he has been supporting development projects in this region,” Mr Munya said.

COUNCIL OF ELDERS
The county boss said the president is expected to launch several infrastructural projects among them the county government’s construction of the eastern and western bypass that are expected to reduce traffic and congestion in Meru Town.

Mr Munya said they will also visit the Kianjai-Miathene road which is being tarmacked by the county government using a low-cost technology known as Probase Standard.

Speaking after a recent meeting of local leaders to prepare for President Kenyatta's visit, Mr Munya said: “As elected leaders of Meru we are committed to unity so that we can fulfill our development promise to the people. We have agreed that MPs will lead the meetings of the president in their various constituencies to avoid confusion.”

The local leaders have also differed over the leadership of Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders.

In the past, the leaders complained over delay by President Kenyatta to visit the county despite locals in the Alliance Party of Kenya stronghold overwhelmingly voting for him in 2013 polls.

The leaders have also been unhappy over neglect of major projects initiated by former President Mwai Kibaki and failure by the Jubilee administration to include more locals in top public appointments.