Munya accuses Muturi and Kiraitu of plot to split region

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya yesterday accused a section of leaders of trying to divide Mt Kenya region votes ahead of the General Elections next year.

Speaking at his Muthara home, Munya accused Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi and National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, who was recently coronated as the region’s spokesman, of spearheading a scheme to split Mt Kenya region and its people for selfish political gain.

He claimed that breaking the political bond between Mt Kenya East and West would disadvantage the region in next year’s election.

“Who is cheating some leaders like Kiraitu and Muturi that Mt Kenya East alone has got the tyranny of numbers?

This is day-dreaming.  We cannot talk of chasing a share of the national cake if we don’t have the numbers.

We we need to unite as Mt Kenya so that we can have a stronger bargaining power,” said Munya.

Dividing Mt Kenya region

This comes a day after Muturi  called on the region leaders to unite and speak in one voice so as to gain a bargaining power in next year’s elections.

Speaking in Igembe on Sunday, Muturi also asked Munya to respect the decision of other leaders and elders, in reference to his recent coronation. 

“Some leaders need prayers. Why can’t they respect the decision of the elders? You cannot insult elders and accuse them when they are doing their work,” said Muturi.

Calling on residents from Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Embu counties to ignore what he called “divisive leaders”,  Munya said Mt Kenya was solid and could not be split.

“We will not allow a few leaders to divide the mountain. We need to walk as one as before and lobby for our share and position when we are united,” he added.

 The former governor claimed  persons keen to divide the region were preparing the ground to support Deputy President William Ruto during the 2022 elections. 

He claimed Kiraitu and Muturi were planning to rally the region to Ruto’s United Democratic  Alliance (UDA) party.

“The one being referred as spokeperson (Muturi) is Kiraitu’s project and we know where they are headed.

The story of reviving the ‘Bus’ party is targeted to kill Jubilee so that we can be sold to UDA,” he added.

“We cannot have the same people who benefited from Jubilee still scheming to kill it.”

He hinted that there soon will be a  major coronation of the “real Mt Kenya spokesman”. 

“Very soon you will see genuine elders across Mt Kenya and all leaders coming together in a big meeting to install their spokesperson and chart way forward for the region,” said Munya.

Respect decision

Kiraitu has kicked off a storm with his declaration that it was time for Mt Kenya West to demand a presidential candidate from the East.

“We are not as foolish as we look. We have been in the political cold for many years,” said Kiraitu, recently.

Buoyed by his coronation as Mt Kenya’s political kingpin last weekend, Muturi is said to have stepped up private political engagements and plans to roll out rallies as soon as the ban on political gatherings is lifted. 

His ambition has, however, left the vote-rich Mt Kenya region divided with a possibility that Mt Kenya East and Central may not vote in the same basket in 2022.