Meru Revenue Board Chairman Bishop Edward Buria has defended Governor Isaac Mutuma’s administration, saying the county had experienced peace, consistency and a people-centred leadership since his inauguration.
The bishop, however, publicly challenged Governor Mutuma to restore order within his administration amid growing claims of internal wrangles, political infighting and allegations of irregular dealings in the county government.
Speaking amid rising tension within the county administration, Bishop Buria warned that some officials had shifted focus from service delivery to early 2027 political campaigns, saying the trend was undermining Governor Mutuma’s leadership.
“As the prophet told King Hezekiah, the time has come for us to put our house in order. We cannot continue moving forward while backbiting one another whereas we are in the same government saying this one should be sacked,” Buria said.
He said leaders with political ambitions should pursue them openly instead of destabilising the government from within.
“Everybody is allowed to make their noise and those who feel they have the capacity to play 2027 politics are welcome. If you claim to have integrity, it dictates that one should be firm. Do not wait for a couple of months to speak up. If you are in government and not happy performing your duties, do not undermine it from inside. Just resign and leave,” he said.
At the same time, the chairman criticised the national government over insecurity in the northern grazing zone, saying authorities should prioritise security operations and compensate affected residents.
He also raised concerns over the appointment of the new Meru County Commissioner, arguing that residents were uneasy because the officer had previously served in a county associated with unresolved cattle conflicts involving Meru communities.
“If he worked in a county believed to have tormented Meru on cattle issues and no solution was found, what help will he bring to Meru?” Buria posed.
The remarks come days after former County Executive Committee Member for Legal Affairs and Public Service Marius Maranya resigned from Governor Mutuma’s cabinet in a move that has intensified debate over the state of the county administration.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Maranya said he chose to resign rather than compromise his conscience.
“Resigning from a decent cabinet job is never easy. One day, my children will understand that daddy gave his best but chose not to compromise his conscience, even when it meant there might not always be bread on the table,” he wrote.
Maranya further alleged attempts to irregularly allocate 68 out of 80 public plots at Itumbi Farm in Timau to a private individual.
“It pains how I struggled in the courts to save the public land from grabbers only to be subjected to a further grabbing. We thought we were fighting for a better Meru; we are worse off,” he stated.
He also claimed he deliberately kept away from the controversial Miraa Bill, which he described as “a societies scam.”
The developments are expected to pile pressure on Governor Mutuma to address divisions within his administration as political realignments ahead of the 2027 General Election begin to take shape in Meru County.
Edited by John Majau
