Members of Meru County Assembly have pledged to support the resolve by County Governor Kiraitu Murungi, who has sworn that his focus to deliver on his mandate will not be derailed by opponents’ calls for early start of campaigns. Speaking in Nyaki West Ward, during issuance of cheques worth Sh93 million for construction of ECDE classes and Vocational Training Centers in the County, members of the County legislature, unanimously called on the Governor to give a deaf ear to all those seeking to raise political temperatures in the County, in order to disrupt his development agenda.

Speaking at the event, Governor Kiraitu faulted critics from the former regime over his development record so far. He noted that while the former regime constructed only 100 ECDE classes in five years, his government has already done 112 in just under two years, and is in the process of completing the ones left incomplete. He added that his administration is constructing classes at a cheaper cost of Sh750, 000 as opposed to Sh1.25 million per classroom by the former county government.

The Governor’s remarks were supported by his Deputy who is also County Minister for Finance, Hon. Titus Ntuchiu. Hon. Ntunchiu noted that the government has already delivered 100 high yielding, solar-powered boreholes in one year, and is already doing the second phase of 50 more, in just under two years, as compared to only 11, delivered by the predecessor in five years. He faulted the claims of non-absorption of the County Budget, noting that those raising such issues want to pressure the County to pay for incomplete projects as was the case in the previous government, which promoted corruption and delivery substandard work. He said that in the water sector alone, the County has paid out over Sh1 billion, issued bursaries worth Sh146 million last year and this year’s Sh104 million in education, and about Sh200 million given out over the two years, for construction of ECDE and Vocational Training Center classes.

"For instance, I want to confirm that I have facts, the former regime paid out Sh53 million for only two boreholes for Kianjai Water Project. They were paying Sh2 million for hydrological surveys, the same exercise for which we are paying just Sh80, 000," added Hon. Ntunchiu.

Kinyua Turibu, the MCA for Muthara, the Ward of the former Governor Peter Munya, said that it would be unwise for him not to support Governor Kiraitu’s vision to transform Meru, especially considering that his Ward has already benefited from 7 high-yielding boreholes in just under one year, for the first time. He cited Muthara as one of the worst areas hard hit by water scarcity, drought and poverty in the County, despite being home to the former Meru Governor for five years. His sentiments were echoed by Mutuma Karithi, assembly majority leader and MCA for the neighboring Athwana Ward, which is also the home of EALA MP and former Tigania East MP, Mpuru Aburi.

"Despite the fact that both Hon. Mpuru and Hon. Munya come from my Ward, it is only under Governor Kiraitu’s leadership, that we now have six boreholes which are large enough to water whole villages, in just under two years since he came to office. This is the first time this kind of development has been witnessed in the Ward," added Hon. Karithi.

The MCAs lauded the Governor’s efforts to improve the devolved ECDE and the resolution by his administration to extend issuance of bursaries to day secondary school students. They noted that so far, they have seen an increase in speed and efficiency of construction of classes, delivery in roads grading projects, dispensaries and other projects funded through the Sh20 million annual allocation of the Ward Fund. They praised the Ward Fund project as a great initiative that is enhancing equitable distribution of resources and development to all the County Wards.

The function was attended by MCAs from all the 9 Meru Sub Counties. They vowed to protect the Governor’s development vision of the County, from any toxicity of the political environment in the County that may be intended by some of the 2022 political hopefuls.