Meru Deputy Governor Rev Isaac Mutuma has been losing more than one kilo of his body weight every week for the last three months due to a strained relationship with Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
In his recent expose to the media last week, Rev Mutuma said he has lost 16 kilos since May when the fallout between him and the governor escalated.
The bad blood between Governor Mwangaza and her deputy is believed to have been borne out of the failed impeachment of the former. So bad is the fallout that the governor and the deputy have not talked to each other for the last six months.
Governor Mwangaza is on record saying that she appointed Mutuma, a former prisons officer and Methodist minister, as her running mate after ‘a lot of prayer and fasting’.
“I cannot appoint a running mate without prayers,” she said in February 2022.
All went well between the two and Mutuma briefly served as health executive following the rejection of the governor’s appointees by the county assembly.
But when did the relationship between the two clergy turned politicians start disintegrating?
According to Mutuma, trouble started in February and was sidelined in the appointment of members of the executive after the impeachment truce.
“I started being isolated immediately after the executive committee was fully in established,” he said.
The situation escalated in May when the deputy governor’s staff including the office administrator, personal assistant and driver were fired or transferred.
He also lost the budget meant to facilitate his official duties turning him into a sitting duck.
“I have never been involved in official county meetings since May 29 this year. I have only been attending the monthly press briefings to cover up for the internal fights,” he said.
The first public display of the fallout was in mid-May when members of the county executive led by County Secretary Kiambi Atheru addressed the media and accused Mutuma of keeping quiet amid allegations that his official vehicles had been withdrawn.
“Today, we had a meeting of all CECs and chief officers but were surprised that the deputy governor did not attend or send an apology. Due to the allegations flying around, we cannot keep quiet. All these allegations have been prepared by our political detractors,” Atheru said.
However, Mutuma remained silent until last week after he run out of hope that the relationship with the governor would be repaired silently.
“Many people have been pushing me to speak about the sacking of my staff and withdrawal of my vehicles but I refused hoping things would work out. I cannot remain silent anymore because all is not well,” Mutuma said.
But Governor Mwangaza said only staff with fake academic papers was fired after an audit by the County Public service board.
In a veiled response to her deputy on Monday, the governor said anyone joining public service must be ready to live with its challenges.
“If you want to add weight, just stay in your house with your wife,” the governor retorted.
On the other hand, Mutuma is appealing for prayers for unity among leaders while vowing to stay put despite being sidelined by her boss.
In the meantime, a section of MCAs have called on President William Ruto to intervene and resolve the longstanding leadership wrangles in the county.
