PNU party leader Peter Munya, ousted Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza and former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi.
The 2027 Meru governor race is taking shape as politicians who teamed up to oust former governor Kawira Mwangaza now prepare to face each other at the ballot.
The contest intensified after former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi declared his interest in the seat, a move that has also reignited debate over his role in Ms Mwangaza’s impeachment.
Mr Linturi’s entry into the race has further placed him under scrutiny over the controversial fake fertiliser scandal that occurred during his tenure at the Agriculture ministry.
The former Cabinet Secretary, who faced impeachment by the National Assembly over the scandal, was ultimately cleared by legislators.
Mr Linturi, the national organising secretary of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), joins Peter Munya who is leader of the Party of National Unity (PNU) and Ms Mwangaza of the Umoja na Maendeleo Party (UMP) in the race to unseat Governor Isaac Mutuma.
Mr Mutuma, who served as Ms Mwangaza’s deputy, was elevated to the position after her impeachment in accordance with the Constitution.
Businessmen Godfrey Mwika and Kinoti Marete have also expressed interest in the county’s top seat.
Divided by similar interests
Although Mr Linturi and Mr Munya supported Ms Mwangaza’s impeachment, paving the way for Mr Mutuma’s ascendancy, the two now appear keen to challenge each other at the ballot despite belonging to the broader united opposition camp.
Governor Mutuma now finds himself under pressure from both the politicians who supported his rise to power and his predecessor, who says she feels betrayed by a leader she once helped elevate politically.
Meanwhile, Ms Mwangaza is preparing for the 2027 elections, which she has described as a political revenge mission against those involved in her ouster.
“The UMP party will field candidates against all those who betrayed me. We are confident that we will send them home through the ballot. We plan to secure a majority in the Meru County Assembly,” Ms Mwangaza said recently while unveiling her 2027 political strategy.
Former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza when she appeared before the Senate Committee on January 28, 2025. Her ouster was the last straw for Meru's women politicians.
Sunday’s revelations by Mr Linturi that there were coordinated efforts to impeach Ms Mwangaza have further fuelled political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections, claiming he mobilised friends who raised money for the impeachment of Kawira Mwangaza.
“It was worth it because we wanted to restore order in Meru,” he said during a live interview on Weru TV on March 1, 2026.
Mr Munya and former governor Kiraitu Murungi have also publicly admitted playing a role in the impeachment process.
“I was part of a team that plotted the ouster of Kawira Mwangaza. The decision to impeach her was made by elected leaders, the Njuri Ncheke elders and the clergy,” Mr Murungi told NTV in March last year.
While Mr Munya and Mr Linturi have since withdrawn their support for Governor Mutuma, Mr Murungi and his allies have pledged to back the county boss.
Mr Murungi’s allies, who defected from the Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP), have since joined The Economic Pillars Alliance (TEPA), a party associated with Governor Mutuma.
Mr Linturi has teamed up with DEP Secretary-General Mugambi Imanyara who is eyeing the Meru Senate seat as well as Felicity Biriri, who is seeking the Woman Representative position.
Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi.
Last month, Ms Biriri was dismissed as chairperson of the Warehouse Receipting System Council after joining the united Opposition camp.
Despite previously working together to impeach Ms Mwangaza, Mr Linturi and Mr Munya are now at odds politically.
“While we are in Opposition with Munya, DCP will have no negotiations with PNU in Meru. We can only hold talks with DEP,” Mr Linturi said during an interview on a local television station on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Mr Munya has been revamping PNU’s grassroots networks in preparation for his gubernatorial bid.
Governor Mutuma, on the other hand, is leveraging the power of incumbency as he seeks his first elective mandate in 2027.
Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma.
He is also banking on his close relationship with President William Ruto to demonstrate his ability to lobby for additional national government resources.
“In the few months I have been in office, we have lobbied for Sh1 billion to upgrade Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital and Sh100 million for Nyambene Level Four Hospital. We also secured support to settle Sh600 million owed to a French investor. Three of those seeking to unseat me have previously been given opportunities and failed. Meru needs a fresh pair of hands,” he said.
Mutuma at the crossroads
The intensifying political contest has placed Governor Mutuma under sustained political attack from his rivals.
Mr Munya has referred to him as an “interim governor,” while Ms Mwangaza has labelled him “Bonoko” (fake) and “a project of cartels,” whom she accuses of orchestrating her removal from office.
However, Mr Mutuma insists he is capable of steering Meru County forward despite his relatively limited political experience.
“Within 10 months in office, I have unlocked projects that my competitors, who served as Cabinet Secretaries, could not. Despite having the President’s ear, they did not lobby for development in Meru. Munya and Linturi should focus on national politics and leave Meru to me,” he said.
Mr Linturi, who is campaigning on the promise of “restoring Meru’s lost glory,” argues that Governor Mutuma has fallen short.
“When we helped him ascend to power, we hoped he would heed advice. Governor Mutuma has no grasp of devolution and does not understand its functions and structures. He keeps citing national government projects yet he cannot account for how the county’s Sh14 billion budget is being utilised,” Mr Linturi claimed.
He further accused the county government of failing to establish effective revenue collection systems and neglecting agriculture, the backbone of the local economy.
“Meru is an agricultural county but lacks sufficient extension officers to support farmers. The county is also losing money through ghost workers. For instance, a former chief officer is at home but still earning a salary. A CEC member resigned in November last year but the governor has yet to make it public or formally release him,” Mr Linturi said.
He maintains that he is seeking the governor’s seat to safeguard Meru County’s position in the national economy and political landscape.
Mr Linturi also accuses current elected leaders of acting as sycophants to the President, leaving Meru sidelined in the distribution of national resources.
“Despite Meru having voted overwhelmingly for President Ruto, we are made to believe that we must beg for development. Our people continue to lose appointed government positions, yet no elected leader speaks out. Meru needs bold leadership,” he said.
Mr Munya, for his part, says he is best placed to guide Meru County out of its leadership and political challenges.
Ms Mwangaza, however, insists she is a victim of cartels and believes the 2027 election will provide an opportunity to decisively remove them from influence.
The four main contenders now face the daunting task of rallying more than 800,000 voters to their side.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
