Don’t dig holes on Ruto’s path to presidency, Kiraitu tells governors Kabogo, Munya
Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi (saluting), who has scoffed at Mt Kenya leaders opposed to Deputy President William Ruto's planned bid for the presidency in 2022. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The DP also rallied behind Mr Kenyatta during his failed bid for the top seat in 2002, when he was his chief campaigner.
- Mr Murungi said it was wrong for Governor Kabogo and Meru's Peter Munya to dig holes in Mr Ruto's path to the presidency.
- He said Mr Munya's State House quest is just a gimmick to help him retain his governor's seat.
- He said Mr Munya should tell locals what his government had done with Sh3 billion out of Sh7.5 billion allocated to Meru County for development.
Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi has scoffed at Mt Kenya leaders opposed to Deputy President William Ruto's planned bid for the presidency in 2022.
Mr Murungi said the region should reciprocate Mr Ruto's support for President Kenyatta in the 2013 and 2017 polls.
"We should support him in 2022 because he has supported our man twice," Mr Murungi said.
The DP also rallied behind Mr Kenyatta during his failed bid for the top seat in 2002, when he was his chief campaigner.
Speaking during a funds drive in aid of Kithaku AIPCA church on Sunday, Mr Murungi said it was wrong for Kiambu Governor William Kabogo and his Meru counterpart Peter Munya to dig holes in Mr Ruto's path to the presidency.
Mr Kabogo has been quoted saying that Mr Ruto will have to renegotiate for support for his presidential bid with Mr Kenya residents after the 2017 elections.
Mr Munya has also vowed to contest for the presidency in 2022 using his yet-to-be-formed party.
SUPPORT UHURU
The Council of Governors (CoG) chairman, who has also opposed the dissolution of Jubilee affiliate parties to join the proposed Jubilee party, however, says he will back President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto's re-election in 2017.
"You cannot say you will back President Kenyatta for a second term when creating doubts for Ruto," Mr Murungi opined.
He said Mr Munya's State House quest is just a gimmick to help him retain his governor's seat.
Mr Murungi noted that Mr Munya had not even visited neighbouring Tharaka-Nithi, Isiolo and Laikipia counties to market himself and only concentrated on the Tigania, Igembe and Imenti areas of Meru.
Mr Murungi said he was confident he would defeat presidential adviser on education Kilemi Mwiria in the Jubilee nominations for the Meru gubernatorial seat.
He said he was aware Mr Munya and Dr Mwiria had hatched a plot for the CoG chairman to back the academic in the primaries in order to trounce him.
FRONTRUNNERS
Dr Mwiria is said to have told a harambee on Saturday that he had no problem with Mr Munya so long as the governor’s seat remains in Tigania.
Both the Mr Munya and Dr Mwiria come from the Tigania sub-tribe while Mr Murungi hails from the dominant Imenti.
The three are currently the front runners for the Meru governor’s post.
The battle for the seat has reignited differences between the Tigania, Imenti and Igembe sub-tribes.
"I am ready to face Kilemi and Munya. Politics of division don't work. For one to be elected senator or governor, he needs votes from the entire Meru.
“Munya should rise against divisive clan politics. Kilemi will not beat me in any party nominations due to the massive support I enjoy in the county and the number of votes I got in the last election,” Mr Murungi said.
"I will trounce him even if he is supported by Munya. He is going nowhere," he added.
RETIRE FROM POLITICS
The senator took issue with Mr Munya for asking him to retire from politics “as he was old” yet the governor backed Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya for a new term.
Mr Munya, who addressed the harambee before Mr Murungi's arrival, had asked participants to pray for Mr Oparanya and Marsabit Governor Ukur Yatani, who also attended the function, to be re-elected.
"Why the doublespeak. Oparanya is older than me?" Mr Murungi noted.
He said Mr Munya should tell locals what his government had done with Sh3 billion out of Sh7.5 billion allocated to Meru County for development.
"He should publish the projects done in each ward and sub-county and tell how much money was used and stop [his] cock and bull story," the senator said.
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