Meru leaders' meeting was self seeking, says Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto has termed leaders who gathered in Meru at the weekend to discuss unity of Mt Kenya region ahead of 2022 as self-centred.

Ruto said leaders who attended the meeting convened by Agriculture CSPeter Munya at the Kenya Methodist University are not interested with the welfare of the common man but their selfish interests.

“I want say that we are different from them because we do not want to talk about what we want to get but what people will get come next year,” the DP said.

Speaking in Rurii Ward, Nyandarua during a rally to thank residents for electing Francis Muraya during the July 15 by-elections, Ruto said leaders should put the interests of Kenyans first.

“The people I walk with are elected leaders. We are in the Hustler Movement together. They are not self-seeking and they are not interested with seats and power. All we want is to empower the common man economically. We want to increase earnings from coffee and tea and put the interest of the people first,” he said.

Legislators allied to the DP also censured leaders who met in Meru on Saturday.

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro wondered why the leaders in Meru met to discuss the unity of the Mt Kenya region.

“Mt Kenya is not split. We have been urging people to unite for a long time now. They are a bit late,” he said.

Nyoro added that they are different from the leaders at the Meru meeting because they are not interested in sharing power but empowering people.

South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro said President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ruto traversed the country, not just Mt Kenya, seeking support for their re-election bid.

“The President and his deputy went across the country not just Meru. We are not a tribal grouping, we welcome all like-minded Kenyans on board,” he said.

Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wa castigated the leaders who met in Meru saying they are hypocritical.

“When we were going round telling Kenyans to unite, they called us Tanga Tanga,” he said.

They just want to unite behind one of them. We are different because we are united behind the ordinary man. We want to talk about the economy and things which will make life better for the people,” he added.

Also present at the thanksgiving ceremony were MPs Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), Ben Washiali (Mumias East), Cecily Mbarire (Nominated), Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga), Owen Baya (Kilifi North), John Kiarie (Dagoretti South) and Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) and women representatives Rahab Mukami (Nyeri) and Faith Gitau (Nyandarua).

The Meru meeting has also faced criticism from local leaders from the region who said they were sidelined.

Munya hosted governors and leaders from Central Kenya in a unity bid. The meeting brought together Governors Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru), Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and James Nyoro (Kiambu).

Also present was; Nairobi Deputy Governor Ann Kananu, Murang'a Woman Rep Sabina Chege, former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, Kieni MP Kanini Kega among others.

A section of Meru leaders dismissed the unity meeting saying it was of no political consequence.

They included Meru Senator Mithika Linturi, Meru deputy governor Titus Ntuchiu and Tigania West MP John Mutunga.

They said it was disrespectful for leaders from Central Kenya to hold a meeting in Meru without involving local leadership.

-Edited by SKanyara