Don’t re-appoint Kaimenyi to Cabinet, Njuri Ncheke tells Uhuru

A section of the Njuri Ncheke council of elders has threatened to hold demonstrations if President Uhuru Kenyatta re-appoints Lands Cabinet Secretary Professor Jacob Kaimenyi in his second-term cabinet.

Addressing journalists at the Nchiru shrine on Tuesday (December 5) , Njuri Ncheke chairman Linus Kathera and Secretary Josphat Murangiri said Prof. Kaimenyi had nothing to show for his tenure in the Education and Lands Ministries.

The group, however, said Kenyatta could appoint any other professional from Meru and Tharaka-Nithi, adding that no one should dictate to the president who should be appointed because he knows those who have performed well.

The elders accused Prof. Kaimenyi of causing divisions and cracks in the council by supporting a splinter group led by Paul M’ithinkia and Pharis Rutere who the elders declared as outcasts.

Mr Kathera said all elders will be meeting on Saturday (December 9) to make their stand known.

The leaders were speaking after lobby groups from Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties – Professionals Association and Mount Kenya Youth Caucus – urged President Kenyatta to retain Prof Kaimenyi and other principal secretaries from the community saying they had performed well in the first term.

The Njuri Ncheke group led by Mr Kathera has previously ‘cursed’ Prof. Kaimenyi in two different occasions. The elders first placed a curse on Kaimenyi in May 2015 after he failed to honour summons over “controversial” remarks about the council. He was forced to part with a white, spotless bull and Sh100,000 in cash on July 7 that year for the curse to be lifted.

Later in May 2017, the group once again cursed Kaimenyi saying he has fueled division among them.