Meru Governor Peter Munya questions Kiraitu's sudden change of heart on him

Meru Governor Peter Munya and county Lands executive Martin Bikuri (in red tie) issue cheques to students of Mulathankari Girls Secondary School on August 23, 2016. Mr Munya questioned why Senator Kiraitu Murungi had suddenly turned against him yet he had expressed confidence in his leadership when he was elected. PHOTO | BRUHAN MAKONG | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  Bruhan Makong  &  OLIVIA MURITHI

What you need to know:

  • The governor said he was advocating for democracy by not joining Jubilee Party to provide an alternative leadership for locals.
  • The Council of Governors chairman said leadership positions should be passed on to new people periodically.
  • He said he would also leave the governor’s seat in 2022 to contest for the presidency.
  • Munya joked that he would give Mr Murungi a gift hamper if he quits politics in 2017.

Meru Governor Peter Munya has questioned why his former ally, Senator Kiraitu Murungi, had turned against him despite expressing confidence in his leadership when he was elected.

“I am surprised because when we were friends for three years, he (Murungi) was saying I am working but now on the fourth year of my term he has started criticising my efforts,” Mr Munya said.

He was speaking Tuesday at Mulathankari Girls Secondary School.

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“The only [reason for] all this is because Mr Murungi is being attracted by the sweet aroma of the county cheque book,” Governor Munya said.

He said he was surprised that Mr Murungi was now criticising his work when for the last three years he was “praising my exemplary work.”

The governor said he was advocating for democracy by not joining Jubilee Party to provide an alternative leadership for locals.

Mr Munya scoffed at the new proposed rule that contestants be barred from jumping to another party after losing in the primaries.

The Council of Governors chairman said leadership positions should be passed on to new people periodically.

RETIRE FROM POLITICS

He said he would also leave the governor’s seat in 2022 to contest for the presidency.

Mr Munya, who was accompanied by Imenti North Development Forum chairman Martin Bikuri, who is also the county Lands executive, urged Mr Murungi to also retire.

The governor asked the residents to put Mr Murungi to task on why he wants to be the Meru governor instead of retiring due to old age, having been in leadership for long.

Mr Munya said he fully supports the Jubilee administration but would not join the Jubilee Party as he would be rigged out during nominations.

He said there was no way he could join the same party with Mr Murungi while contesting for the same seat.

“How can you enter a slaughter house voluntarily knowing that you are going to be slaughtered?” posed Mr Munya.

He joked that he would give Mr Murungi a gift hamper if he quits politics in 2017.

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