PNU billboards vandalised in Meru ahead of President Uhuru Kenyatta's visit

Some of the vandalised PNU billboards in Meru town. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • According to an itinerary provided by Public Communication Director at State House Munyori Buku, the president’s visit begins at Maua in Igembe-South and later Laare in Igembe North.

  • President Kenyatta is then expected to head to Kaaga Primary School grounds after which he will address residents of Meru town. Jubilee supporters donned in party colours started trooping to the venue of the rally early morning.

  • There has been bitter rivalry between supporters of PNU led by Meru Governor Peter Munya and those of Jubilee.

The Party of National Unity billboards in Meru town were vandalised on Friday night ahead of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit to the county today.

Two billboards near Kathita Bridge and one near the Nkubu matatu terminal were completely destroyed by unknown people on Friday night.

Police say the matter is under investigation.

According to an itinerary provided by Public Communication Director at State House Munyori Buku, the president’s visit begins at Maua in Igembe-South and later Laare in Igembe North.

President Kenyatta is then expected to head to Kaaga Primary School grounds after which he will address residents of Meru town. Jubilee supporters donned in party colours started trooping to the venue of the rally early morning.

There has been bitter rivalry between supporters of PNU led by Meru Governor Peter Munya and those of Jubilee.

Senator Kiraitu Murungi is vying for governor on a Jubilee ticket while Mr Munya is seeking re-election through PNU.

The presidential visit comes amid complaints by some Jubilee Party MPs over what they term as bungled elections of interim leaders in the county.

The Head of State is expected to pacify the recent revolt by a group of disgruntled MPs and aspirants as well as heightened campaigns by other politicians to popularize PNU in the region.

Imenti-South MP Kathuri Murungi said the dissenting voices on Jubilee activities in the county should not be ignored.

“There is a crack in the Jubilee house in Meru and our seniors don’t see that. I am afraid Jubilee will perform dismally if the dissenting voices on the composition of JP officials is not solved,” he told Nation.co.ke.

“Meru is unique because we had two strong parties that dissolved to form JP. APK and TNA. The JP leadership is skewed towards APK after behind the scenes schemes to get both the chairman and secretary-general coming from APK,” Mr Murungi added.

The legislator said strong candidates in all elective positions are now shying off running on a JP ticket, giving PNU undue advantage in the region.

Already, team of aspirants has written a memorandum to the JP headquarters in Nairobi to have the wrangles solved