A youth group dubbed Shauri New Dawn in Imenti North Constituency, has strongly condemned political activist Mike Makarina for what they termed as abusive remarks towards Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
Speaking at Gakoromone, the youths, led by their chairperson Elvis Kirimi, said they were affiliated with the Two-Term Movement and fully supported the government.
They questioned why Makarina would insult the Deputy President despite previously appealing for his help when he was hospitalized.
“We here belong to Two Term but there is this person called Mike Makarina who has made us very angry by insulting Kithure Kindiki who he were appealing to recently when he was in hospital to come and check on him,” said Kirimi.
The group noted that Kindiki’s office had sent Gideon Kimathi to visit Makarina while he was unwell, accusing the activist of being ungrateful and politically provocative.
They said continued attacks on the DP amounted to disrespecting President William Ruto and warned Makarina to steer clear of Meru politics if he could not respect national leaders.
“We saw Gideon Kimathi come to check on you in the hospital, did you want Kindiki to come himself and check on you? We as the youths from Gakoromone are in full support of Kithure Kindiki and you should cease insulting him,” Kirimi added.
They also criticized Makarina for what they termed as using his status as a Person with Disability to gain sympathy, saying many PWDs supported the government without hurling insults.
The group claimed that Makarina has often shifted his political alliances for personal gain, citing his past support for former governor Kiraitu Murungi who was fiercely opposed to former Governor Kawira Mwangaza, before later switching allegiance to Kawira Mwangaza.
“You were recently supporting Kiraitu while he was governor to politically finish Mwangaza but now you are on Kawira’s side and we clearly see that all this is for your own stomach,” said the youth.
They also faulted Makarina over his remarks on the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), where he allegedly complained about receiving too little money, likening the amount to airtime.
The youths said such comments were meant to discredit the program instead of constructively engaging with it to benefit vulnerable Kenyans.
“We saw that when you were in hospital you said that SHA gave you little money that you use as airtime from your phone which sounds bad,” said the youth.
The youth reaffirmed their commitment to defending DP Kindiki from what they described as baseless political attacks, saying they would continue to rally support for the Deputy President in Meru and beyond.
