By Wainaina wa Ndung’u
The PNU leader Peter Munya is currently locked into a three-man gubernatorial contest against former CS Mithika Linturi of DCP and incumbent Mutuma Ethingia currently allied to the UDA.
Munya remains one of the staunchest opposition leaders during the UDA era and was recently caught in a momentarily clash with the DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua.
That spat triggered by his remarks at the Citizen TVs JK Live has since cooled off and Munya remains politically actively engaged in Meru, in the PNU and in moves to unify the opposition under a single presidential candidate against President William Ruto.
One of Munya’s strengths is ability to revive an ardent support network he has built over the years while serving as Assistant Minister in President Mwai Kibaki’s government, as Meru’s first governor between 2013-17 and as a powerful Cabinet Secretary in Uhuru Kenyatta’s government first at Trade Ministry ending as Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives.
But he is facing the ever-present headache of balancing the Meru fault lines.
With Linturi and M’Ethingia from the second largest – three constituency – Igembe vote in the race, Munya is bereft of a crucial support base to add to his two constituency Tigania backyard.
It means that the largest – four constituency Imenti block – will largely be the king makers in the next election.
Any of the three contenders could get a major head start if they cultivated the support of impeached former governor Kawira Mwangaza in case the courts do not clear her to contest in the next elections.
It will, of course, be a different ball game if Ms Mwangaza gets a greenlight to attempt a retake of her former seat.
