Insiders have shared the intrigues behind Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Peter Munya shelving his political ambitions to focus on completing President Uhuru Kenyatta's Big 4 Agenda.
Munya, who addressed a congregation in Tharaka Nithi, on Thursday, February 10, detailed that he opted against quitting the Cabinet to campaign for the Azimio la Umoja movement.
The Agriculture CS further announced that he would not contest in the Meru gubernatorial that would have seen him challenge the incumbent governor, Kiraitu Murungi, his perennial rival.
Reports detail that Munya stepped down for Murungi after the duo held a series of intense negotiations led by President Uhuru Kenyatta's proxies.
The insiders did not, however, detail whether the two signed a pact but it was believed that Murung'i promised to carter for Munya's political interests in the region.
Uhuru was also said to be wary of splitting the votes, especially with his deputy William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA), keen on winning several seats in his backyard.
"He has made my work a little bit easier. This is a gift to me from God and I have to thank him and promise that we shall work together with him," Governor Kiraitu announced on Wednesday, February 9 at a press conference.
The two leaders also agreed to spearhead Azimio la Umoja campaigns in the region, ahead of President Uhuru Kenyatta's Mt Kenya tour.
Munya expressed confidence that the coalition led by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga would form the next government. The CS, while inspecting development projects in Tharaka Nithi on Thursday, February 10 also took a swipe at Ruto, accusing him of insubordination.
"He (Ruto) cannot complain of government’s failure, while he is going around the country with pockets full of government money dishing it out,” he castigated the DP.
"Instead of serving Kenyans in the offices they occupy, some have been going around the country lying to Kenyans that President Kenyatta’s government has failed to deliver,” Interior CS Fred Matiang'i, who accompanied Munya added.
Murungi ousted Munya in 2017, a poll that posed a headache to Uhuru as he feared that the contest would have split Jubilee votes in the county that year.
To deflate the tension between the two leaders, Uhuru appointed Munya as a CS in his Cabinet.
