National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi’s controversial coronation received a major boost after three Mt Kenya governors endorsed his installation as the Mt Kenya region spokesperson.
The three are Kiraitu Murungi (Meru), Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka Nithi) and Embu’s Martin Wambora met Muturi on Friday afternoon and offered their support for the ceremony planned for Saturday at the holy Gikuyu shrine of Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga in Murang’a.
The event has drawn sharp criticism from sections of elders as well as host governor Mwangi Wa Iria who has vowed not to allow it to happen saying the shrine is not open for political activities but only for prayers.
Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru has also criticised the event saying that the Mt Kenya community never had spokespersons or cultural kingpins – even though she has also been meeting elders herself among them Meru’s Njuri Ncheke.
KIkuyu Council of Elders led by their chairman Wachira Kiago and their Kiama Kia Ma counterparts led by their chairman Ndungu Gaithuma have distanced themselves from the event saying it was likely to result into a disaster.
They warned that the last time a similar political coronation was conducted at the shrine ended badly saying they have not been consulted neither are they aware of those behind the event.
Muturi on his part has vowed to proceed on with the event saying the elders who planned the event had not called off the prayers.
In their statement, the three governors said Muturi was a man of his word, respectable and with the interests of Mt Kenya at his heart and noted that Muturi has had a good working relationship with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
They said country was approaching a transition adding that as a region, Mt Kenya was at crossroads where the larger Mt Kenya community needed to find a voice to articulate its issues.
“What we need is a steady hand, one that’s already tried and tested to help President Uhuru Kenyatta deliver to our people,” they said.
been opposed by two other governors from the region
