A section of Murang’a MCAs want Governor Mwangi wa Iria to resign from the ruling Jubilee Party after he declared his interest to vie for the presidency in 2022.
Three MCAs Amos Murigi (Kimorori Ward), Peter Kiiru (Gaturi Ward) and Samuel Kihurunjo (Gitugi Ward) said the decision by governor to go for the top seat is against the constitution of Jubilee Party.
Murigi said Wa Iria is currently the leader of Jubilee Party Murang’a Branch and added that by declaring he will vie for the presidency on a Civic Renewal Party (CRP) ticket means he has effectively decamped from being a member of the ruling party.
Speaking in a Murang’a hotel, the three MCAs who have been critics of the county administration stated that the governor cannot start supporting another party at this time when elections are about three years to come.
They further faulted the recent exercise on distribution of bursaries saying some children from their wards were not considered.
Kiiru said the exercise on issuing the scholarships to 1000 needy bright students was not transparent asking the process of selecting students to be redone.
In a rejoinder, MCAs allied to the governor led by the County Assembly Majority Leader, Eric Kamande told off the leaders opposed to the governor’s wish to contest the presidency.
Kamande said the governor is still in Jubilee Party and when time for campaigns will come, he will consider using CRP as his political vehicle to clinch the top seat.
He said the three MCAs have not been supporting any development agenda in the county and all the time they are against any project initiated by the governor.
On issuance of scholarships, the Majority Leader noted that the three MCAs refused to sit in committees which were established in their wards to select the needy students to benefit from the programme.
Elsewhere, a group of residents of Murang’a South welcomed the decision by the governor to go for the top seat come 2022.
Led by a section of officials of CRP the residents said Wa Iria’s decision will place him as leader of Mount Kenya region once President Kenyatta’s term ends.
Samuel Mwangi supported the governor, saying he fits for a big position once he completes his term as Murang’a governor.
Mwangi said as CRP members they will continue supporting the President in his development agenda noting that they will not allow leaders to disrespect the head of the state.
The officials of the newly registered party said they will start popularizing the party in Central Kenya region before moving to other parts of the country.
By Bernard Munyao
