Meru Senator Mithika Linturi has severally been mentioned as a suitable candidate from the Igembe region likely to battle it out with Governor Kiraitu Murungi in the August polls.
In December last year, a section of Igembe residents raised concerns that the Governor’s seat should now go to a leader from the region, preferably Senator Linturi or Igembe North MP and National Assembly Majority Whip Maoka Maore.
However, in what was seen as an immediate move to quell the ‘noise’, Governor Kiraitu Murungi hosted Senator Linturi for a closed door meeting at the County Headquarters a few days later.
“Senator Linturi is still my friend despite our different political camps at the moment. We have done several things together. He assured me that he will be seeking to retain his position as Meru Senator,” Kiraitu said after the meeting.
The disquiet among several Igembe leaders has however persisted in recent days, with calls for a ‘rotation’ in the County top seat among the three Meru sub tribes.
But in an interview with a vernacular TV station on Sunday night, Senator Linturi says that he will reveal his 2022 plans at the right time.
“I am aware that certain Igembe residents would like someone from the region to contest for Governor. I will be looking for them soon to listen to their concerns and views. Probably there are unfulfilled promises they feel would be best addressed by someone from Igembe,” Linturi said.
South Imenti MP Kathuri Murungi and several other UDA lieutenants in Meru have severally insisted that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) will field a Gubernatorial candidate in the August general election.
CS MUNYA SUPPORT
According to Senator Linturi, Agriculture CS Peter Munya needs to quickly put his house in order, since his chances of becoming Raila Odinga’s running mate are minimal.
“I had promised him my full support if he was to be nominated as Raila’s running mate. But I would like to advise him to resign early and either seek the Governor’s seat or Tigania East MP,” Linturi says.
“Apart from the Mt Kenya West leaders’ obvious unwillingness to support a candidate from Meru, CS Munya will be considered unsuitable based on his lack of the much needed financial muscle and political clout. He has no backing from MPs or MCAs in his backyard,” he says.
In recent days, CS Munya has been entangled in nasty fights over the control of The Party of National Unity (PNU) with Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, who is the chairman of Raila Odinga Campaigns.
Last week, Governor Muriithi met scores of political aspirants from the Mt Kenya region, seeking to contest various posts on the party’s ticket in the August 9 polls, something that sparked outrage from CS Munya and his allies in the party.
Peter Munya has severally hinted at seeking a second term as Governor in the August polls, in a bruisy battle pitting him against Kiraitu Murungi and Meru Women Rep Kawira Mwangaza.
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