Shelve 2022 presidency bid and support Ruto, Kiraitu tells Munya

Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi (left), who is now vying for governorship, and his running mate Titus Ntuchiu at Muthara on May 18, 2017. Mr Murungi wants Governor Peter Munya to abandon his ambitions to vie for the presidency in 2022 and instead support Deputy President William Ruto. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • He said he will help the Mr Munya to secure a job with the national government after trouncing him.
  • Senator Murungi accused Mr Munya of failing to develop even his home area.
  • Mr Murungi accused Mr Munya’s administration of failing to provide water and blocking issuance of title deeds in Tigania East.

Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi wants Governor Peter Munya to abandon his ambitions to vie for the presidency in 2022 and instead support Deputy President William Ruto.

Mr Murungi, who is the Jubilee Party nominee for Meru governorship, spoke at Muthara market, Mr Munya’s hometown Thursday.

He said he will help the Mr Munya to secure a job with the national government after trouncing him in the August elections.

He said Mr Munya cannot raise the numbers needed for him to be elected president.

During the meeting hosted by leaders from Tigania East, Senator Murungi accused Mr Munya of failing to develop even his home area during his current tenure as governor.

TITLE DEEDS

Senator Murungi accused Mr Munya’s administration of failing to provide water and blocking the issuance of title deeds in Tigania East.

“I have nothing against Mr Munya. My passion for the Meru gubernatorial seat is inspired by the need to make Meru great. I will help Mr Munya secure a job after I beat him in August. I would not let my in-law suffer,” Mr Murungi said.

He said the Gema community should back Mr Ruto’s presidential bid, adding that Mr Munya’s bid would be an injustice to the DP.

“Mr Kenyatta won because of the support he got from Mr Ruto. The DP has offered to support Mr Kenyatta’s re-election this year. It is only fair for the Gema community to back Mr Ruto in 2022. Politics is about numbers and the Meru voters cannot make you president. Let my brother Munya know that he has lost direction,” the senator said.

WATER SHORTAGE

He said if elected Meru governor, he will address “the water shortage facing Mr Munya’s home area”.

“Most of the complaints I have received here revolve around water provision, insecurity, title deeds and livestock development. When we campaigned with my brother Munya in 2013, we had pledged to allocate Sh1 billion to water every year. But Meru residents are still begging for relief food. This is the mess I want to undo as governor,” Mr Murungi said.

On insecurity, Mr Murungi said if elected governor, he will work with the Isiolo County government to address banditry at the border of the two counties.

“The relative peace we have experienced at the Meru-Isiolo border came about when I sat with Isiolo Governor Godana Doyo. Peace cannot be brought by use of guns,” he said.