‘We have no time to waste on inf******g’ – Ruto weighs in on Meru County wrangles
President William Ruto has called for unity among elected leaders in Meru County amid concerns over escalating wrangles.
Speaking during an interdenominational church service at Laare Stadium on Sunday, September 10, the Head of State urged the leaders to get down to work or face the wrath of the electorate in the 2027 polls.
“People are watching who is working and who is not. Let us work together in harmony...We have no time to waste on infighting,” Ruto stated.
“In 2027, people will make a decision and it will be based on how we performed,” he added.
He noted that Members of County Assembly (MCAs), Members of Parliament (MPs), Senator and Governor, have distinctive roles to play as enshrined in the constitution and called on the leaders to put their differences aside to work for the people.
“We must unite and work for the people. Please, I beg you let us work together,” he said adding that the leaders should not drag Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi into local politics.
At the same time, Ruto noted that the current standoff was minor and would be corrected.
“You have spoken but I have not seen where there is a huge problem. It is not too bad, just some little misunderstandings and we will correct it,” the President added.
He asked Governor Kawira Mwangaza to unite all leaders, saying there was no reason for rivalry.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who attended the function, called on the governor to reconcile with her deputy Isaac Mutuma amid reports the two leaders had fallen out.
Gachagua warned that the county risks lagging behind in development over ongoing infighting.
Mutuma is said to have fallen out with the county boss after the DG’s office was moved from the current Meru county headquarters, where the governors’ offices are located, to the old headquarters.
In a recent address, the deputy governor also accused Mwangaza of unilaterally withdrawing his personnel as well as denying his office funding.
“My office Secretariat has been reduced to zero personnel or withdrawn without prior attention brought to me,” he said.
“I wish to inform the good people of Meru County that the executive arm of the government led by Her Excellency Honourable Bishop Faith Kawira Mwangaza has since allocated the executive office of the Deputy Governor operations kitty. The same has not been remitted to my office since February 2023, and as such, I have been running a public office with my own private money.”
The governor, however, denied the rift with her deputy, saying the matter had been blown out of proportion.
She accused the DG of working with her political opponents to undermine her.
"He must be ready to work with me so we can quickly deliver projects we promised the people of Meru ahead of last year's elections," Mwangaza said during an interview with Muuga FM last Friday Friday.
