Munya invites Uhuru to summit to prove PNU loyalty

The Party of National Unity (PNU) will soon hold a delegates convention to reaffirm their support for President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election, party leader Peter Munya has said.

Speaking to Nation, Mr Munya said they are working closely with Jubilee leadership to ensure Mr Kenyatta attends the convention.

This comes in the wake of claims by Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi and Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi that PNU is backing the National Super Alliance (Nasa) coalition whose flag-bearer is Mr Raila Odinga.

FUNDING NASA

Mr Linturi told Mr Munya to lead PNU delegates in endorsing President Kenyatta’s second bid just like four other parties did on Saturday.

“We saw Kanu, Narc Kenya, EFP and Maendeleo Chap Chap parties endorsing the president in his presence. We did not see PNU hold such a meeting. This is why we are saying PNU is backing Nasa candidates,” Mr Linturi claimed.

Mr Murungi said Mr Munya, also Meru governor, is not genuine in his support for President Kenyatta.

"We know Mr Munya and his government financed Nasa flag-bearer Raila Odinga's tour in Meru two months ago,” Mr Murungi alleged.

PNU INVITES UHURU

But Mr Munya said PNU delegates were the first to meet and endorse Mr Kenyatta as the party’s presidential candidate.

The party National Delegates Conference (NDC) endorsed the president in October last year.

"Our position on the presidential candidate as PNU has not changed since we endorsed Mr Kenyatta last year.

"We have not given anyone a responsibility of speaking on behalf of PNU. We are working with Jubilee leadership to invite the president to PNU convention for avoidance of any doubt," Mr Munya said.

He denied claims by Mr Murungi that County administrators helped in ferrying people to a rally attended by Mr Odinga in February this year.

“Senator Murungi can say anything to derail me. But all the things he has said about the death of PNU have proved to be false.

"He is like a drowning man and is clinging on any straw. The perceived popularity of Nasa in Meru is one of the straws he is clinging to,” he remarked.

CAMPAIGN PLEDGES

The former allies who won on the Alliance Party of Kenya (Bus) ticket in 2013 have differed over utilization of county resources and Mr Munya’s style of leadership, among others.

Mr Murungi accuses the governor of failing to fulfil their pledge to end water shortage by allocating Sh1 billion yearly to the sector.

But Mr Munya insists that the Senator was only keen on overseeing the resources allocated to the county government.