Why new state appointments have fuelled old fires in Meru

President Uhuru Kenyatta (right) and Deputy President William Ruto look on as Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter addresses members of the public during a Thanks Giving function held at Eldoret Sports Club on December 16, 2013. Recent appointment of heads of state corporations by the president has sparked complains from a section of Meru MPs such as Igembe North MP Joseph M’Eruaki, saying they were unequally distributed. PHOTO | FILE    

In Summary

• Meru community has seven distinct sub-tribes: Imenti, Igembe and Tigania in Meru County, and Tharaka, Chuka, Mwimbi and Muthambi in Tharaka-Nithi County
• During the Kibaki era, the area, Imenti , produced two Cabinet ministers, Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura, Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission director Aaron Ringera and former police commissioner Mathew Iteere
• Today, many residents of Tharaka and Nyambene regions still don’t have title deeds despite Mr Angaine’s having held the Lands docket
• The unequal distribution of resources was largely exploited by former PM Raila Odinga during campaigns, helping Cord to capture two parliamentary seats in Tigania East (Mpuru Aburi) and Igembe Central (Kubai Kiringo)
• Imenti North MP Rahim Dawood, who is of South Asian descent, says he is optimistic that other regions of Meru will get their share of political appointments

By CHARLES WANYORO
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In February 2006 after Cabinet ministers Kiraitu Murungi and David Mwiraria were forced to step aside over the Anglo Leasing scandal, the dissatisfaction over the skewed distribution of resources and plum jobs in the area was laid bare.

Unlike what happens when key community leaders lose Cabinet jobs, the then Meru Members of Parliament — especially those not from the Imenti sub-tribe — did not defend Mr Kiraitu and Mr Mwiraria. Few understood why.

For starters, the Meru community has seven distinct sub-tribes: Imenti, Igembe and Tigania in Meru County, and Tharaka, Chuka, Mwimbi and Muthambi in Tharaka-Nithi County.

Interestingly, the scandal which forced the former ministers to step aside was exposed by a fellow Meru MP, the then Ntonyiri (now Igembe North) legislator Maoka Maore.

Leaders from Meru Central region, inhabited by the Imenti sub-tribe from which Mr Murungi and Mr Mwiraria hail, lobbied for their return, while those from other sub-tribes told President Kibaki to appoint other MPs to the Cabinet.

This caused a bitter rift that resulted in a brief split of the revered Njuri Ncheke council of elders. The council was later reconciled.

During that time, the entire community was represented in the Cabinet by Mr Murungi and Mr Mwiraria. The other regions had only four assistant ministers— Mr Kareke Mbiuki, Dr Kilemi Mwiria, Mr Peter Munya and Mr Raphael Muriungi.

But complaints about appointments did not begin with the Jubilee government. Leaders from the Imenti sub-tribe have over the years landed plum positions in successive governments.

KEY FIGURES

During the Kibaki era, the area produced two Cabinet ministers, Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura, Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission director Aaron Ringera and former police commissioner Mathew Iteere.

There were also 10 permanent secretaries and more than 30 top parastatal bosses. President Uhuru Kenyatta is being accused of favouring one area.

Education Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi is from Murathankari village in North Imenti, about 15 km from Interior principal secretary Mutea Iringo’s home in the Gachanka area of the same constituency.

The only other PS from the region, Prof Micheni Ntiba, is from the Chuka area of Tharaka Nithi County. Both Mr Mwiraria (KWS) and Mr Muthaura (Lappset) are now parastatal heads.

But Meru Central’s dominance began even before Kenya attained independence.

General Baimunge Marete, who fought closely with Mau Mau hero Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi, was from Githongo village in Imenti.

And after independence, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta rewarded the Meru Central region by appointing Mr Jackson ‘Harvester’ Angaine — who christened himself the King of Meru — Lands minister.

Mr Angaine had a firm grip on the region’s politics before handing the baton to Mr Kiraitu.

He had the ears of both Mzee Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi and exploited his immense influence to develop the Imenti region.

LACK OF EQUITY

Today, many residents of Tharaka and Nyambene regions still don’t have title deeds despite Mr Angaine’s having held the Lands docket.

Meru Central also has the lion’s share of the region’s tarmacked roads. The entire Tharaka-Nithi County has less than 30 km of tarmac – the Thuci-Nkubu road that links Embu with Meru town.

The Ena-Ishiara-Ciakariga-Mate road, the first stretch of tarmac in Tharaka Constituency, stalled at Ciakariga market.

But the Marimba-Mitunguu-Nkubu and Meru-Githongo-Kionyo-Kinoro-Chogoria road, which connects the tea and horticultural-rich areas of Meru Central, is already complete.

Chuka, which is the largest town in Tharaka-Nithi County, remains untarmacked.

The unequal distribution of resources was largely exploited by former PM Raila Odinga during campaigns, helping Cord to capture two parliamentary seats in Tigania East (Mpuru Aburi) and Igembe Central (Kubai Kiringo).

But Mr Aburi has said he will work with the Jubilee government to ensure his constituency is developed. He said Imentis usually get the top jobs, citing Mr Muthaura and his son Paul Muthaura, who is Capital Markets Authority acting CEO, Mr Iteere and Mr Mwiraria.

“Under the Kenyatta regime, most of those who fought for independence never benefited. People from Tharaka-Nithi and Nyambene never benefited,” he said.

“Those who benefited were Imentis through Angaine. Kibaki repeated the same and didn’t recognise other parts of Meru. Nyambene and Tharaka-Nithi have not received anything under President Kenyatta.”

CONSTITUENTS UNHAPPY

Igembe North MP Joseph M’Eruaki said his constituents are disillusioned. “We voted for Jubilee overwhelmingly, but when it comes to jobs, we are ignored. The only appointment we had is former PPS head Isaiah Kabira,” he said.

“The President must look at the map of Meru and not give posts to only one small area. We have sons and daughters who are qualified to serve,” he said.

Tharaka-Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki said county leaders had sent a list of people they wanted appointed, but it was ignored.



“We sent the President names of people to be appointed to ensure Tharaka Nithi gets its fair share. Without that it shall not be business as usual,” he wrote on Facebook.

But Imenti North MP Rahim Dawood, who is of South Asian descent, says he is optimistic that other regions of Meru will get their share of political appointments.

He said Mr Muthaura is best suited to head the Lappset project because of his experience in management.