By ISAAC ONGIRI
Meru voters have for decades taken cue for political direction from the neighbouring Central Province.
They stuck with President Kibaki from the first multi-party polls in 1992 to the controversial 2007 General Election.
But with Kibaki’s exit looming, Meru leadership are split, opening a floodgate of political tours by State House hopefuls keen on inheriting the Kibaki support.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka have been making forays into the region while Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta was in Nithi on Friday for special prayers before his journey to The Hague.
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MPs from the community have declined to rally behind one local leader to give political direction, leaving two questions begging: Will the Meru wait for political signals from the neighbouring Central? Or will they go their way after 20 years of loyalty to Kibaki?
Two groups pulling apart have emerged with Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi steadily steering one camp against a rebellious team featuring Assistant Minister Kilemi Mwiria, Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi and Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara.
Kiraitu’s group comprises MPs Ntoitha Mithiaru (Igembe North), Peter Munya (Tigania East), Silas Ruteere (Imenti North), Alex Mwiru (Tharaka) and Kareke Mbiuki of Nithi.
"What we are out to stop is the perception that an individual can own the Meru people. We want to associate with a political wing that will consider the people of Meru as partners and not followers like has happened for years," Linturi told The Standard on Sunday.
He accuses local leaders close to the previous regimes of having used the community to get personal benefits while the region remained left out in terms of essential services.
"Other than benefits by individuals, the Meru people got nothing under the Kibaki regime. We want to be much more careful this time. We will no longer take political direction from Central Province," Linturi added.
Raila camp
The legislator, who severed links with Uhuru, said he had joined Raila’s camp after he the PM agreed to partner with the people of Igembe South to initiate projects in the area.
"I have gotten into a working partnership with Raila because he sits in ministries that are of benefit to our people. In this few months, the doors have opened and Ministry of Water has given Sh700 million for a sewerage project in Maua. Billions of shillings have been released by the Roads ministry for the construction of Meru-Maili Tisa road among others," Linturi said.
The MP, who says he has no apologies to make for working with the PM, accuses PNU of having taken the Meru for granted, claiming no projects had been initiated on the ground.
"We are not going to lock Meru out for purposes of Gema interests. We want a borderless Meru where every leader in this country has freedom of access," Linturi added. According to Imanyara, efforts are being made to ensure the Meru make an independent decision on political issues after the Kibaki era.
"I admit Imenti area benefited from key appointments but the larger Meru is feeling cheated under the Kibaki regime," Imanyara claimed.
The MP said campaigns to shift the political support to the PM’s side has been gaining momentum in Meru and Tharaka counties. But Mbiuki, who hosted Uhuru on Friday, feels the Meru politics will not change much. He said though residents were not interested in stopping "political tourists" from visiting the two Meru counties, they would back Uhuru.
"At one point, the Ameru had seven PSs under Kibaki. Now, we are going to vote for Uhuru. Raila has made inroads but it is not much. Kalonzo also has a few people behind him," Mbiuki said.
Ruteere, who is the chairman of Ameru Parliamentary Group, said nine MPs from the region would meet other leaders to decide who to support in next year’s elections. "It is not true the Meru community has always taken political signals from Central. In fact, the Meru stuck with Kibaki from 1992 and it is the Kikuyu who have always followed us," Ruteere added.
The MP, however, said the Meru were not interested in having an individual to be the community’s spokesman.
"In Meru, we have no such things. In fact, if you attend a Njuri Ncheke meeting, you will notice the elders sit in a circle," he said.
And Ntoitha argues the Ameru voters are strategic in their political decisions, warning presidential candidates that there will be no blind support.
"We have not taken a decision because we are giving all the candidates an opportunity to tell us what they have for us," the Igembe North MP said.
