Senator Linturi and Deputy Governor Ntochiu says leaders from elsewhere should not purport to be providing political direction for residents
Meru Senator Mithika Linturi and Deputy Governor Titus Ntochiu were not invited to a meeting of Mount Kenya leaders in Meru town.
Several governors, MPs and other leaders from Mount Kenya are expected at the meeting to chart the way forward for the region in wake of recent sentiments pointing a likely split in the run up to next year's general election.
There have been grumbles by leaders from Mt Kenya West after their counterparts in the East endorsed National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi to become the region's spokesman.
Linturi on Friday said leaders from other areas should not converge in Meru to tell residents and where to go in 2022.
“We are people who can organise ourselves and chart our way forward,” the senator said.
He said Meru MPs and Governor Kiraitu Murungi are not aware of the meeting as they were not invited. He claimed they too will equally not attend.
“Most of the MCAs in the county are in Mombasa and they are not aware of the meeting,” Linturi said.
He criticised Agriculture CS Peter Munya whom he described as having a one-man show in organising the event.
“He lost his votes and was given a job at the mercy of President Uhuru Kenyatta. He should not think that he will urinate on us here in Meru because of that job. Meru is not a urinal,” Linturi said.
He said Munya was wrong to think he can unite the people of Mt Kenya using the meeting.
Ntochiu said Munya was beaten in the 2017 election and should therefore not pretend to speak on behalf of the people of Meru.
He said they will not accept to be duped into blindly supporting people who have nothing to offer to residents.
The two leaders spoke on Friday at Athwana in Tigania West constituency during an education day.
Kiraitu who has been vocal in advocating for a presidential candidate from Mount Kenya East has hinted that the region might go it alone in 2022 even without the backing of their Gema brothers.
Kiraitu is backing National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta and has threatened the bloc might form its own party and go it alone in the 2022 presidential race.
On the other hand, Munya has been advocating for the unity of Mt Kenya region, saying they can only benefit if they remain united.
Edited by P.O