Linturi crowned Ameru spokesman by Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders

Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi, after being installed by former governor Kiraitu Murungi(Left)and Njjuri Ncheke national chairman Linus Katheera(Right) to be the spokesperson of the Meru community at the Njuri Ncheke shrine in Tigania West Constituency in Meru County. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has been crowned the new Meru community spokesperson.

Linturi was crowned by Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders to succeed former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi who has served in the role for 40 years.

Njuri Ncheke national chairman Linus Katheera said that Linturi has been duly elected community spokesperson.

"And we shall also tell the president (William Ruto) that the chosen person by Ameru people is Linturi. We are telling all those speaking about Meru, that we have our lion and there is no leader that we shall recognise if not Linturi," said Katheera.

"He is our spokesperson; he is our leader and he is the chosen one for the Meru. Even though he is a cabinet minister, he is also our mouth piece and he shall lead us," added Katheera.

He requested the president to honour choice of the Njuri Ncheke

"We request the president to honour our decision and anything about Meru should come through Linturi. We have done what we as a community feel is the best thing to do," he said.

Speaking at the historic Nchiru Shrines in Meru County after his coronation, Linturi welcomed his installation and promised to serve with dedication.

"The respected Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders is the ultimate decision-making organ in the Meru community and I welcome my installation with a promise to champion for the community's interests for the sake of development," said Linturi.

Linturi lauded his predecessor, Kiraitu for his achievements during his four-decade reign as the Njuri Ncheke spokesman.

"We thank the former Governor for his leadership in steering the development agenda for the Meru region in the last 40 years and I promise to follow his example," stated the CS.

While handing over the mantle of leadership to Linturi, Kiraitu hailed the CS as a result-oriented leader who is qualified to take over from him.

"I have trust and confidence in Linturi because I have worked with him for many years and he's currently the best placed Meru community leader capable of taking over this role," Kiraitu said.

The former Meru Governor, who has also served as a cabinet minister during the Mwai Kibaki regime, highlighted his achievements as the spokesperson of the Meru community.

"For the last 40 years I have managed to elevate the Meru region by lobbying for development projects like building of roads, schools, hospitals and electricity connections in our region," he added.

The event was graced by, among other leaders, Environment Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya who led the elders in planting trees at the historic shrine.

Tuya welcomed the Njuri Ncheke elders' move to join environmental protection and conservation efforts, promising to partner with the elders in planting more trees in line with President William Ruto's climate change agenda of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.