Nyeri leaders put differences aside to pursue development
Seth Mwaniki @MwanikiM
Nyeri county leaders on Monday appeared to bury their differences on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) after attending this year’s prayer breakfast meeting organised by church leaders.
Although some of the politicians do not see eye-to-eye on matters BBI, they shared a platform and pledged to unite for the sake of development in the county.
In attendance were Nyeri Town MP Wambugu Ngunjiri who invited his political nemeses Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira) and Nyeri Woman Rep Rahab Mukami to the podium.
Realise development
Speaking during the three-hour meeting whose theme was “Let us Come Together Before the Lord, Our Trust and Help”, the leaders pledged to put their differences on BBI aside to ensure development is realised at the grassroots.
Gachagua, however, took Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga to task and asked him to explain why he referred to ODM leader Raila Odinga as “Baba” during the BBI rally at Meru’s Kinoru Stadium last weekend.
“Although we agree with the governor on many issues, I could not understand why he was dancing reggae and calling someone Baba yet it’s only God who is our father,” said Gachagua.
Sharp differences
Mutahi said he supports BBI to ensure equity of regions based on one-vote-one shilling system, a call by Mt Kenya region leaders during the BBI rallies.
Nyeri Catholic Church Archbishop Anthony Muheria said leaders must unite despite their political differences.
“As leaders you should not verbally attack each other and then come for prayers. The best thing you can do is to unite for the sake of peace,” the primate said.
A BBI meeting is set to be held in Nyeri in two weeks’ time and is expected to be politically charged, given the sharp differences among grassroots leaders.
