Election fever hits Meru as Munya, Mwiria battle for governor’s seat

By FRANCIS NGIGE

Kenya: The Supreme Court may have stopped the prospect of having a gubernatorial by-election in Meru, but the anxiety in the expansive county is palpable.

Market places, villages and social gatherings are abuzz with locals discussing the unfolding political scenario that has divided their opinion down the middle.

Since the Court of Appeal sitting in Nyeri nullified the election of Peter Munya, the political temperature has risen. Wednesday’s ruling by the Supreme Court to reinstate Munya as governor pending the determination of an appeal, did not make the situation any better.

Politicians across the two distinct camps — one led by Munya and the other by his archrival Dr Kilemi Mwiria — have sharpened their weapons ready for the duel, whichever way the highest court in the land rules.

Temporary reprieve

The agricultural-rich county has been thrown into a cacophonic frenzy associated with elections, with every social gathering being turned into a campaign platform for either of the two politicians.

Locals are also divided on whether a by-election should be held or if Munya should be allowed to stay put.

The temporary reprieve Munya got from the court is, however, a jolt to majority of the MPs in the county, who were and are still keen “to teach him a lesson.”

Having fallen out with them, Munya has on several occasions been receiving a bashing from the legislators who accuse him of running the county single-handedly.

Munya, however, enjoys the support of 65 out of the 69 members of the Meru County Assembly, which has boosted his operations for the past year.

But at the ground, residents feel that the election fever and anxiety that has rocked the region will eventually slow down the development agenda, making the county lag behind.

Attempts by community elders of the Njuri Ncheke to reconcile the two factions have come to naught, with none of the groups is willing to cede ground.

Njuri Ncheke Secretary General Phares Ruteere confirmed that there had been an attempt to bring Munya and Mwiria to the negotiating table to “tell them that they are all Merus and should put the interest of the county at heart.”

“We have not given up, we still believe there is room for reconciliation. We want the loser to respect the verdict of the people and wait for another time. 2017 is not that far,” Ruteere told The Standard On Sunday.

He said the elders are concerned that the two protagonists come from the same region, but their tussle over the election outcome had brought deep-rooted divisions among Meru residents.

“This county government is meant to foster development, but the more we tussle over election, the more we will be losing out. We need the political leaders to understand this,” Ruteere said.

Disquiet and unease

Residents who spoke to The Standard on Sunday said the longer the matter drags in court, the longer there will be disquiet and unease among locals.

And true to this, in every market The Standard on Sunday visited, residents were huddled in small groups discussing the ramification of the Supreme Court ruling that barred the IEBC from swearing in the county speaker, essentially putting off the by-election indefinitely.

“This is really bogging us down, we need to get this thing cleared so that we move on with our business. We should know whether we are going for elections or not,” said Mwongera Mugambi, who was part of a group discussing the issue at Makutano.

Never before has an issue divided Meru residents this much, even threatening the stability of a region mostly regarded as moderate in terms of politics.

From Ntonyiri to Buuri and Imenti, the residents are pre-occupied with the issue of a gubernatorial by-elections.

Interestingly, Munya and Kilemi are from the same locality, Tigania. Residents of this populous area are also split on who to support in case of a by-election.

“This issue has divided us very much, since both of them are our sons and we value their leadership qualities. If there is a way they can reach a compromise, this will be a welcome outcome,” says Lucy Ndege, a resident of Tigania.

In Imenti, residents also want the case resolved fast so that they can start enjoying the fruits of devolution.

“The Meru people are not associated with extreme political standings but the longer this case stays in court the longer the people will remain unsettled. It is prudent that through our Senator Kiraitu Murungi, the two politicians are brought to the negotiating table,” said Antony Gatobu, a Tigania resident.

The stakes are so high that even national leaders have been sucked into the local politics, with the name of Deputy President William Ruto featuring prominently.

Munya has told the national leaders to keep off the region, saying Meru issues should be left to the county’s residents to decide.

Ruto has made forays in the county. The last time he was there, about a fortnight ago, it was speculated that he was rooting for Kilemi, who hosted him for dinner in his house.

Reacting to Ruto’s visits to the area, Munya questioned why the DP has toured the Meru region eight times within one year, spending about three days in the area in any of his visits.

“Even as a governor, I have never visited any particular ward or constituency so many times. Meru is a Jubilee region and I wonder why he (Ruto) would come here so many times and leave out other areas where the government does not enjoy support,” he wondered.

But Kiraitu, who is regarded as the de facto leader of the Meru, sees things differently saying Ruto is a national leader whose visits should not be politicised.

Cheap politics

He defended Ruto’s visit as a State event, noting that some leaders were spinning propaganda that Senate Majority Leader Prof Kithure Kindiki was taking over the region’s leadership.

“I do not think the President and his Deputy can harbour any intentions to divide Meru people. Those perpetrating those cheap politics should know that they have so far been overtaken by time, and instead concentrate on uniting the people and initiating development,” said Murungi.

The senator said the Jubilee government — which his APK party is part of — was formed in the spirit of enhancing development and unity among all Kenyans.

“These rumours must stop, since I have a good working relationship with the Senate Majority Leader Kindiki, President Kenyatta and his Deputy Ruto. Let us understand that we are elected by the public to work for them and the period for party politics has already been overtaken by time,” said Murungi.

Political analyst Prof Gitile Naituli, who is familiar with the local politics, said the electorate was ready to go back to the ballot from the time the Court of Appeal annulled Munya’s election.

“The people respect the legal process but the anxiety is not good at all. I think the residents want to go the election to clear this air of uncertainty that has engulfed the county,” said Naituli.

He said in case the election is repeated issues of party and regions would come to play.