Njuri Ncheke elders suspend Njuki over graft case, warn Sudi and Ng'eno
Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi on September 8, 2020, where he and others were charged in a Sh34.9 million corruption case.
What you need to know:
- Mr Josphat Murangiri, the council’s secretary-general in charge of operations, said the governor cannot discharge his duties as an elder while facing corruption charges.
- The elders also took a swipe at MPs Oscar Sudi (Kapseret) and Johana Ng’eno (Emurua Dikirr) over their utterances against President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mama Ngina Kenyatta and told them to apologise or face their wrath.
The Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders has stripped Tharaka-Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki of his roles in the organisation following his arraignment in court on corruption allegations.
Mr Josphat Murangiri, the council’s secretary-general in charge of operations, said the governor cannot discharge his duties as an elder while facing the charges.
The governor was charged on allegations of the irregular award of a tender for an incinerator that cost Sh34.9 million.
“As a leader he is an elder but once an individual is alleged to have engaged in corruption he is not supposed to participate in our affairs. He also cannot attend our meetings until he is cleared,” he said.
“We have no grudge against the governor, who is our son, but our rules demand that before being accepted into the council again, he must be cleared of the charges.”
Others warned
Mr Murangiri, who spoke Saturday at Westwind Hotel in Meru County, was accompanied by officials including council chair Linus Kathera and Washington Muthamia, the secretary-general in charge of programmes.
The elders also took a swipe at MPs Oscar Sudi (Kapseret) and Johana Ng’eno (Emurua Dikirr) over their utterances against President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mama Ngina Kenyatta and told them to apologise or face their wrath.
“We have given them five days to apologise, failure of which we will call all elders in Meru and curse them. There is no way young people can insult the President and his mother and go scot free,” said Mr Muthamia.
Earlier on Saturday, MP Ng'eno, who was arrested and charged last over his utterances, said he will not backtrack on pushing the government to uphold the tenets of democracy and allowing the people to enjoy their constitutional rights.
He also said he will continue to render basic services, roll out development projects, distribute resources equitably and discard tribalism, nepotism and favoritism in appointment in the public service.
He told President Kenyatta to focus on cementing his legacy as his time is running out. Mr Kenyatta is expected to retire in 2022 after his second term as President.
