Divided backyard may cost Kaimenyi

The polarised county political leadership may prove to be a costly affair for the embattled Education Cabinet Secretary Jabob Kaimenyi when a motion of no confidence against him is tabled in the National Assembly.

Last Thursday, the CS hosted a section of county MPs to seek support in defeating the motion.

There are divergent reports of the outcome of the meeting that was held in Nairobi.

While some sources alluded that the MPs failed to give unconditional support to Kaimenyi, Meru Parliamentary Group Chairman Kathuri Murungi (Imenti South) and Rahim Dawood (Imenti North) said the meeting had resolved to lobby for the defeat of the motion.

Mr Murungi said seven MPs attended the meeting while Mr Rahim and Kubai Iringo (Igembe Central) sent apologies. Mithika Linturi (Igembe South) was absent without apologies.

“We resolved and have since started lobbying other MPs to defeat the proposed motion and from my assessment, most have no major issues with the minister,” said Murungi.

He said the Meru MPs want Kenyans to give the besieged CS a chance to continue serving the nation.

Misunderstood personality

“Kaimenyi is largely misunderstood because he is a fast talking leader with a commanding refrain that can be confused for arrogance,” he added.

Rahim said most Meru MPs would stand with the CS if the matter finds its way to the floor of the House.

But Mr Linturi ruled out supporting the CS saying as a Njuri Ncheke elder, he is barred from associating with Kaimenyi until he clears a fine imposed on him by one of the Njuri Ncheke factions in April.

According to Linturi, the curse that saw the minister branded a porcupine means that before the Meru community, he was equivalent to a bankrupt person who has no reputation and cannot hold public office.

“If the motion comes to the floor of the House, I will have no option but vote for it in accordance with Meru customs and traditions, as a senior elder,” he said.

Linturi noted that as much as he sympathises with Kaimenyi, the tribulations are the repercussions of the curse turning true to affect the well-being of a person, and his family will be affected as well.

While Murungi called for personal differences to be kept off the current debate, Rahim claimed that Kaimenyi’s tribulations have a key sponsor from Meru.

Nominated Meru MCA Alhaji Mwendia said most political leadership was against the CS because he was inaccessible and unnecessarily combative and antagonistic towards them as well as to the faction controlling the majority of Njuri Ncheke.