Meru leaders have expressed concern over what they termed as being undermined by President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government.
They say there was no tangible development being directed towards the region despite overwhelmingly supporting Dr Ruto in the last general election.
Members of parliament said they wanted to see revival of stalled projects and new ones being launched as reward for being solidly behind the President.
Imenti North MP Rahim Dawood said it was the high time the Kenya Kwanza government demonstrated that Meru indeed played a key role in its 2022 election victory.
“We are being taken for granted and we cannot take it lying down. What we want is development and not prayers,” Mr Dawood said in an interview. The MP was referring to several thanks giving prayer meetings that the President and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua have held in Meru since they were elected.
Meru county residents voted almost to a man for Dr Ruto and the county’s tally of nearly 400,000 votes or 80 per cent of total votes cast was ranked fourth after Nairobi, Nakuru and Kiambu. The leaders now say they want the President to reciprocate by allocating more resources to the region.
While there are several stalled projects, the leaders said Meru was being side-lined whereas development projects were being launched in other counties. They vowed to forge ahead with alliances with leaders from other regions to push for development.“We’re talking to leaders from Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Marsabit and other North Eastern counties to forge a formidable force so that we lobby for projects together,” Mr Dawood said.
He spoke in response to inquiries about speculation that the MPs were planning a walkout from Kenya Kwanza following talks with leaders from Ukambani with a photo taken after the meeting in an undisclosed location going viral on social media platforms. Mr Dawood however dispelled rumours that they were planning such a move.
During a recent UDA meeting in Meru, Buuri MP Rindikiri Mugambi and his Imenti Central counterpart Kirima Ngucine expressed similar sentiments, saying they wanted to see more development in Meru county.
Speaking during Meru Press Club Special Annual General meeting on Saturday, Multimedia University of Kenya lecturer Prof Gitile Naituli seemed to read from the same script when he said it was the high time Meru supported Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
“Kalonzo is one of the leaders in Kenya who are not tainted. The Meru people have been known to choose credible leaders and they should show Kenyans the right direction,” Prof Naituli said.
“We supported former President Mwai Kibaki and stood by him despite losing in three elections. When he finally won he became the best president in Kenya. We can do it again by supporting Kalonzo and we will not regret. He is the only man who can liberate our country,” he added.
The murmurs in Meru against president Ruto come in the wake of governor Kawira Mwangaza’s failed second impeachment which saw the entire Meru leadership gang up against her. She was however said to have been saved by powerful politicians from both Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalition.
Mr Dawood however said the move to seek alliances was not connected to the governor’s woes. “That matter is behind us now and we have moved on with our other plans. We want development in Meru and not petty politics,” he said.
