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| Organisers of Limuru III socio-economic and political meeting |
Organisers of Limuru III socio-economic and political meeting scheduled for Friday have said Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and former president Uhuru Kenyatta are welcome to attend.
Mt Kenya region leaders drawn from over 10 different parties led by Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua and Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, announced the Limuru III conference would be held to iron out the region’s issues.
“This is an open invitation for anybody who wants to come and anyone who might not feel intimidated. We know there are those who cannot come because they are coming from the government. If you attend a meeting which will bash the government that you are serving you run the risk of being disciplined, but this is a meeting which has no exclusion at all including the Deputy President or even the former president because they come from the region,” the organisers said.
Speaking after a closed-door meeting at a hotel in Ruaka, Kiambu county, former Laikipia governor Ndiritu Muriithi said the meeting is open for every person to discuss matters ranging from agriculture, economy and politics.
“Mt Kenya region has an economy bigger than 33 African states and as a region, we have decided to come together to chart a way forward,” Ndiritu said.
He said the meeting has no invitation and is open meeting for Mt Kenya people at Limuru Jumuiya conference centre so that everybody can have a say on different matters that will be discussed.
“We are the ones who will bring ourselves to the meeting. This is not a political meeting or rally where people are mobilised with money. People should not have any idea that they will be paid as no one will pay them. This meeting has no financiers or bigger people than the other. We will all be equal in deliberations,” he said.
He said the region has lagged behind in terms of economy with increased unemployment and untapped resources, adding that the region can only liberate itself through unity.
“Other regions have come together and deliberated on their matters. There is nothing wrong with Mt Kenya region coming together to discuss their own matters,” he said.
Last week, Gachagua extended an olive branch to Karua and Kioni inviting them to table their wishes for the Limuru III meeting.
Gachagua emphasised the significance of being kept informed about matters concerning the region. He expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with leaders regardless of their political affiliations.
“As the regional leader, it is my responsibility to convene such meetings. If they indeed have an agenda, my office is open and they are welcome to reach out to me,” Gachagua said.
The Deputy President said if he is convinced of the meeting’s intentions to promote peace throughout the Mt Kenya region, he will support it irrespective of political affiliation.
Karua in response said anybody wishing to invite her should invite her directly.
Stephen Ndicho, former Kiambu assembly speaker and a UDA party member, said it is important that the region comes together and discusses critical and important matters of social, economic and politics.
“We have been threatened and intimidated that this is a tribal meeting but as a region we must start to iron out our issues locally. This is the beginning of a process that is anchored in the future of our people and future of the country,” Ndicho said.
He added that the region reports to no one as it drives itself and knows where they are coming from, where it is going and has no bad blood with anyone, it just wants to make its things right.
“We, the political leaders of the region, want to make our people feel that they have an effective representation when it comes to matters political, economic and social,” he said.
“The expectations of over 8 million people in the region who were convinced to vote for Kenya Kwanza today are expressing disappointment that what they are getting is not what was expected, As leaders we must go back to the drawing board and come up with another method,” he said.
He said the Deputy President as the senior most leader of the region should attend the meeting so that he can hear real time issues of the region.
The first Limuru meeting was held in March 1966.
It was called by founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta who sought to pass measures to reduce the influence of radicals within Kanu.
The Limuru II conference was last held in March 2012, bringing together leaders from the Gikuyu, Embu and Meru communities.
From the gathering, former President Uhuru was handed the mantle of leadership to succeed former President Mwai Kibaki as the region’s leader.
The organisers however said preparations for the meeting have been finalised and that the meeting will not be rescheduled.
by STANLEY NJENGA