Meru Governor Peter Munya to run for presidency

Meru Governor Peter Munya has announced plans to vie for the presidency in the 2022 General Elections.

Speaking during a food distribution exercise in Meru on Monday, Munya refuted reports that he will go for the running mate slot in the 2022 elections stating that he has ambitions to run for the presidency through his yet-to-be-unveiled party.

He reiterated his earlier stand against joining the newly formed Jubilee Party saying the move is aimed at benefiting a single candidate.

Munya, however, remained categorical that his new party will support President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy William Ruto in 2017 though it will not be dissolved.

The announcement comes just a day after the Governor announced plans to form a new party that will push the agenda of people of Meru.

“Jubilee Party’s main agenda is to help the Deputy President ascend to power in 2022 without putting in mind other members of the party,” said Munya during an address at Ntharene Day Secondary School on Sunday.

The Council of Governors chairman said the move to dissolve Jubilee Coalition affiliate parties and form Jubilee Party will only benefit Ruto calling into question the favourability of the rest of the members.

“Plans are underway to form a party for the Mt Kenya region since it is one of the major ways of giving the region its bargaining power,” he said.

“The country and different counties need a voice of their own even if there is a uniting party for the entire nation.”

Previously, Deputy President William Ruto had said that Jubilee was ready to face the opposition with a new party, to be unveiled soon, in the 2017 General Elections.

The debate on a new party for Jubilee coalition has been on for some time with leaders abandoning the ‘infant’ Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) just few months after its formation.

Reports also indicate that JAP was disbanded after it was clear that it could hold forte since it was seen as a brainchild of members from one faction of the coalition.

Both President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy Ruto have come out to voice their support for Jubilee Party as the vehicle they would use in the 2017 elections.