Peter Munya takes issue with Jubilee over unfulfilled poll promises
Meru Governor Peter Munya at a past event. He has accused President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto of failing to fulfil campaign pledges made to Meru community. FILE PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The decision to ban the stimulant was not based on an evidence of a medical or social harm.
- The governor reiterated that his ambitions to vie for the presidency in 2022 were still on course.
Meru Governor Peter Munya has asked President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto to explain to the Meru community why they have failed to meet campaign pledges.
Mr Munya on Sunday singled out promises made by the Jubilee government to tarmac roads and build water dams in Meru as unfulfilled.
He spoke at Maili Tatu Stadium in Igembe Central where he launched the Governor’s Cup Tournament
The Council of Governors chairman was particularly irked by the government’s slow pace in helping miraa farmers find an alternative means to their livelihoods after the crop was banned in Europe.
The county boss insisted that the national government should seek the World Trade Organisation’s intervention in resolving the ban as a trade dispute between Kenya and EU.
According to the governor, the decision to ban the stimulant was not based on evidence of medical or social harm.
“The county government has no ability to lodge that dispute at [the] WTO. But as a lawyer, I know and I am confident that we are likely to succeed. A harambee was conducted to help in reviewing that ban. We want to be told the progress of that initiative. Let us be told what their plans are for miraa farmers,” said Mr Munya.
While on a visit to Meru in February 2015, President Kenyatta assured miraa farmers that the government was committed to saving their livelihoods.
Mr Kenyatta said he was aware of the tribulations farmers were undergoing after the ban took effect in June 24, 2014.
He said the government would continue to petition the British government to review the ban. Mr Kenyatta said the government would also look for new markets for the stimulant to help farmers get value for their crop.
The governor reiterated that his ambitions to vie for the presidency in 2022 were still on course.
“We want the government to release all funds for the devolved functions. There is no way you transfer a function and fail to release its funds,” said Mr Munya.
The governor also waded into the controversy surrounding the construction of the Kenol-Sagana-Marua road, saying the government should not reroute it.
“They should stick to the initial plan,” he said.
