I thought Mpuru Aburi was a Luo, says Senator Kiraitu

 Meru senator Kiraitu Murungi and ODM MP Mpuru Aburi

Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi has revealed that at one time, he mistook Tigania East’s ODM MP Mpuru Aburi, for a Luo.

Aburi, one of the two ODM MPs in Meru County (the other being Igembe Central’s Kubai Kiringo) bears a striking resemblance to ODM leader Raila Odinga.

The two Meru leaders have had a long-standing political relationship with the Cord leader before Aburi increasingly started leaning towards the Jubilee government.

Senator Kiraitu, speaking in Mikinduri in Aburi’s constituency said: “The first time I met him, I thought he was a Luo because he looked like one. But I am proud of him because he is a champion. He has been tear-gassed at rallies (during the one-party era),” Kiraitu said.

Aburi told The Nairobian that Raila’s father, the late doyen of Opposition politics, is his political mentor.

“In 1991, Jaramogi told me to always speak my mind without fear when I see my people being impoverished by anybody, including the government,” said Aburi who for a long time fought for political supremacy with Governor Peter Munya.

The son to Aburi Naiture, a community leader who had three wives, Aburi was the only child of his mother.

“I was circumcised with other boys, so I used to sneak out to go beat them up a little bit, encouraging them to heal faster! I wanted to toughen them a little,” Aburi said.

He attended Mutiwa Primary School after which he went to Form One at Thika Academy in 1979.

“It was not long before we got arrested and tortured in Nyayo chambers. They took us to prison in Machakos, then transferred us to Kimiti. It was hell. Do they still take people there,” he asked.

“Many chiefs were sacked after being seen with me,” said Aburi, who is married to Agnes Kajuju, with whom he has three children.

The owner of Bunyala Timber in Nairobi, Aburi also has invested millions in Thiiri FM, a community radio station based in Meru town.