Governor Peter Munya to launch political party next week

The battle for supremacy in Meru County has taken a new twist after Governor Peter Munya announced that he will be unveiling a political party that he will use to seek re-election in 2017 following the dissolution of the Alliance Party of Kenya (APK), famously known as the ‘Mbus Party’.

Munya, who has been vocal in opposing the recently formed Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP), said that together with other like-minded people, they have formed a political party that will consolidate the voter population in the region and overcome JAP.

Addressing residents of Igembe North Sub County, Munya said the proposal by Senator Kiraitu Murungi to dissolve APK and join JAP was undemocratic and unacceptable.

The Governor said that he will be convening a delegates conference at the end of the week to chant the way forward now that the ‘Mbus’ has been parked.

He had earlier on termed the move to join one political party as dictatorial saying that it threatens democratic gains already achieved by the country.

Munya’s stand has created a rift between him and his longtime friend Senator Murungi who is committed to dissolving the APK.

Early this month, Munya faulted Mr. Murungi for going round to convince leaders in the Meru region to leave their parties and join JAP, the vehicle President Uhuru Kenyatta will use to seek re-election in 2017.

This was after the Jubilee Coalition formed a 30-member steering committee to fast-track the dissolution of affiliate parties and the formation of the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP).

Key coalition constituent parties of the ruling coalition, among them The National Alliance (TNA), the United Republican Party (URP), Ford Kenya, the Alliance Party popularly known as the Bus, the Republican Council among others have until December this year to close shop and lead their members into JAP.

A consultative meeting at the JAP headquarters late September that was attended by leaders of the Jubilee affiliate parties resolved to set up a 30-member national steering committee led by Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi and former Cabinet Minister Dr. Noah Wekesa to oversee the process of transforming the parties into a single political entity.

The team includes Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki, his National Assembly counterpart Aden Duale, Kericho Senator Charles Keter, lawmakers Dr. Naomi Shaaban, Katoo Ole Metito, Jamleck Kamau, Alice Ng’ang’a, Joyce Emanikor and Mary Emase among others.

Last week, Tharaka Nithi Governor Dr. Samuel Ragwa joined Munya to disapprove the formation of JAP saying that they can only join hands after they are conversant with the party ideology and constitution.

Ragwa and Munya have remained adamant amidst pressure to join JAP, a new political outfit that aims at securing a re-election for President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.