EMBU RESIDENTS THREATEN TO BREAK OFF FROM GEMA

A section of Embu County residents has thrown its weight behind National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi’s installation as Mt. Kenya spokesman.

In SUMMARY

·         The locals said they have supported the Central Kenya leaders since independence and it is time they reciprocate

·         They lauded National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi as a mature leader who was fit to lead the region and country

·         Muturi was recently coronorated as Mt Kenya Spokesperson but there has been a split in the region with Agriculture CS Peter Munya being among those opposing his elevation

The residents at the same time dismissed opposition of Muturi’s coronation by leaders drawn from the Central Kenya region, saying Mt. Kenya East, which comprises of Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Meru also deserved to lead the vote-rich bloc after supporting their neighbours politically since independence.

Speaking in Embu town, the group threatened to cut their association with Central Kenya in the Gikuyu, Embu, Meru Association (GEMA) if the attempts to scuttle the National Assembly’s leadership of the region are not stopped forthwith.

The team declared that the Mt. Kenya East region could no longer afford to continue being bystanders’ in regional politics when home-grown leaders had come of age to rise to the third most powerful position in the country. They claimed the area had stagnated in development for lack of their own at the helm of the country.

Muturi was hailed for having successfully led the National Assembly for the last nine years, with the residents saying that time was now ripe for him to transit to a different leadership position. They said time was ripe for Muturi to set the political agenda for the region and negotiate nationally.

The team challenged the Central Kenya leadership to support the Speaker as a sign of gratitude after Mt. Kenya East unanimously supported Presidents Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta in previous elections.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya also came under sharp criticism for downplaying Muturi’s coronation as a Meru elder after he attended the traditional ceremony. The residents told off Munya as an attention seeker who was out to create regional disunity.

The statement comes hot on the heels of another declaration by Central Kenya leaders, led by Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria and his Kirinyaga counterpart Anne Waiguru who declared that they would be charting their way forward as a separate entity in the Mt. Kenya region.

The group vowed to break off from the Gema outfit and chart their own political path due to what they termed as arrogance exhibited by Central Kenya leaders, whom they blamed of belittling other politicians in the region.

Story by MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT

Edited by MUSYOKA NGUI