Defiant Meru Governor Peter Munya storms out of Jubilee Party's fundraiser

Meru Governor Peter Munya (right) storms out of a meeting held by Deputy President William Ruto (left) after Jubilee MPs started demanding he join their new outfit. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The event in Nkubu is among a series of eventss planned to popularise the new party ahead.

  • DP William Ruto had attended a fundraiser at the St Pius X Seminary in Nkubu.

Combative Meru governor on Saturday stormed out of a Jubilee Party fundraiser in Nkubu telling the chief guest Deputy President William Ruto that he will not join their new outfit.

Governor Peter Munya, who also serves as the Council of Governors chairman, found himself in an awkward position when Jubilee MPs started asking him to join the yet to be launched party.

Mr Munya, who spoke before the Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi was invited to speak, maintained his hard-line stance declaring that he will not join the Jubilee Party.

“I have the right to join any political party I want. No one will coerce me in joining a particular party. Let it be known in 2017 will vie on another party and not JP,” said a furious Munya who handed over his donation to Imenti South MP Kathuri Murungi and left hurriedly amid jeering from a section of the public.

Jubilee Party MPs and members of the public jeer as Meru Governor Peter Munya storms out of a fundraiser at St Pius X Seminary presided over by Deputy President William Ruto at Nkubu on February 6, 2016. The governor walked out of the meeting in protests over calls to join the new party. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

JUBILEE PARTY LAUNCH

Mr Ruto who was accompanied by several MPs, including National Assembly's Majority Leader Aden Duale, and ward representatives had attended a fundraiser at the St Pius X Seminary in Nkubu.

The event in Nkubu is among a series of rallies planned for a county awareness campaign to popularise the new party ahead of its launch in March this year.

The ruling coalition wants to use the party to seek President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election in 2017 and the election of Mr Ruto in 2022.