President William Ruto used the burial of Igembe North MP Julius Taitumu’s father, Patrick Baikilanya, to rally Meru residents behind Governor Mutuma M’Ethingia, Senator Kathuri Murungi and the area MPs
Addressing mourners on Saturday, Ruto praised Governor Mutuma’s leadership and urged residents to grant him another term, saying unity among leaders had unlocked development in the county.
“There was a lot of noise before Mutuma became governor. Re-elect him so that he can continue serving the people,” Ruto said.
The President endorsed Deputy Senate Speaker Kathuri Murungi for another term, describing him as a selfless leader, and praised Igembe North MP Julius Taitumu as an honest and hardworking legislator who persistently lobbies for development projects.
“If I were to vote here, I would vote for Taitumu. He always disturbs me asking for development projects for his people,” Ruto said.
The leaders who attended the burial including Kathuri, Mugaa, Mutuma, MPs Taitumu, Mpuru Aburi(Tigania East), Dan Kiili(Igembe Central), Mugambi Rindikiri (Buuri), John Paul Mwirigi drummed up support for the re-election of President Ruto and his deputy.
“All the presidents who served before you completed two terms in office. You have surpassed them all with your development record here in Meru County,” Mutuma said.
The President said the government had planned over Sh20 billion in development projects across Meru County, including the construction of 24 modern markets worth Sh3.6 billion, affordable housing projects, hostels at Kenya Medical Training College and Meru University to accommodate about 6,000 students, and the upgrade of Meru Level Five Hospital, whose first phase he said would be commissioned before the end of the year.
He announced a donation of Sh10 million to the primary school attended by the late Baikilanya where the burial mass took place and highlighted ongoing road projects, including the Kaelo-Mutuati road, the Mea-Buluu-Ndonyo road aimed at improving security in bandit-prone areas, the Kaelo-Antubetwe road and the Laare-Antubetwe-Kinna road.
Ruto said more police officers had been deployed to tackle banditry in northern Meru and neighbouring areas, expressing confidence that the insecurity menace would soon be contained.
On healthcare, the President said over 600,000 Meru residents had registered with the Social Health Authority (SHA), urging the remaining residents to enrol to improve health planning and ensure universal access to treatment.
He said the government had paid Sh5.6 billion in hospital claims through SHA over the past one and a half years, insisting that no Kenyan should be forced to sell livestock or property to meet medical bills.
The President defended his administration’s economic agenda, saying irrigation, water provision, electricity connectivity and infrastructure were key to ending poverty and driving industrialisation.
He urged leaders to abandon divisive politics in favour of development, saying Kenyans would judge leaders based on their vision and delivery rather than political rhetoric.
“When you see someone making a lot of noise, they have no plans or agenda for health, water or education. Kenyans elect leaders because of their developments delivery and vision,” he said.
Ruto said he had altered his schedule to attend the burial after learning of Baikilanya’s death from the MP, delegating his planned assignment to his Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
He described the deceased as a hardworking servant urging families to emulate his values of hard work, integrity and responsible parenting.
Former Meru Governor Kiraitu defended the President’s leadership, saying critics are underestimating Ruto’s political resolve and development agenda.
“People do not really know who President Ruto is. There has never been a time, since independence, that Meru has held the Deputy President’s seat. It is God who has given us that position through Prof. Kithure Kindiki. You pass the ball to the player closest to the goal to score. So why are we making noise? This is the greatest show of love a president can give you.” Kiraitu said, adding that he would work to ensure Meru remained at the centre of national development.
Kiraitu exuded confidence that Ruto will win the 2027 general elections with a landslide.
Water Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa appealed to Meru residents to support the President, citing ongoing projects including plans to address the long-standing accident blackspot at Nithi.
MP Taitumu said his constituency had benefited significantly from President Ruto’s administration, including funding for water projects, roads and technical training institutions.
He said the government had allocated money for grading the Liundu-Ndunyu road and was implementing projects at Antubetwe, Nganya and Kinangina.
“We cannot reject development because of politics. Every time I visit the President’s office, I never come out empty-handed,” Taitumu said, urging residents to support the government’s development agenda.
Edited by John Majau
