Agriculture CS Peter Munya has now revealed that President Uhuru Kenyatta persuaded him not to run for the Meru Governor seat in the August 9 general election.
CS Munya made the revelation at a public function in Kibirichia on Friday, where he launched a subsidized fertilizer programme for potato farmers.
“I have heard some people saying that I retreated out of fear. Do I look like I can fear the old man?” Munya posed, insisting that he has what it takes to oust Governor Kiraitu Murungi.
According to Munya, President Uhuru Kenyatta asked him to shelve his gubernatorial ambitions and stay at the helm of the Agriculture ministry to finish programmes that would benefit farmers.
The CS urged residents to back the Raila Odinga-led Azimio La Umoja, saying he is best suited to take care of their interests.
“I am fully in Azimio. And I would urge you to continue praying for me. If I am given an opportunity to be Raila’s running mate, I am more than ready,” the CS said.
Just like in several other recent meetings, Munya took a swipe at Deputy President William Ruto, whom he blamed for his loss to Governor Kiraitu Murungi in the 2017 election. The CS, who ran on the Party of National Unity ticket, said Ruto teamed up with Kiraitu of Jubilee in the 2017 election.
“He (Kiraitu) teamed up with Ruto to steal my victory in 2017. We know what happened. They flooded the entire County with GSU officers and stole our votes,” said Mr. Munya.
The vote-rigging claims come at a time when the electoral body has summoned Murang’a Women Representative Sabina Chege after he recent remarks about the 2017 polls.
Speaking in Vihiga County on Thursday during a campaign tour of Azimio La Umoja-allied leaders, Sabina Chege said there was some truth in claims that votes were stolen in the last election and the same could be replicated in this year’s polls.
“Mnajua kule Central nimeskia wengine wakisema tuliwaibia. Kuna ka ukweli kidogo. Lakini kama tulijua kuiba… si hata hii tutafanya ninii… Kwani wanafikiria wao ndio wajanja?” she posed.
Her remarks have now triggered a political fireball with leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA party coming out guns blazing to castigate the Murang’a Woman Rep.
DP Ruto has rubbished Sabina Chege’s remarks even as he exuded confidence that he would win the elections. At the same time, the DP warned against any attempt to rig the forthcoming elections.
“Our competitors have now accepted that we have defeated them in terms of agenda and votes… Their option now is to rig the elections. We want to tell them we are ready for them. We have God and Kenyans on our side,” says DP Ruto.
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