MERU – Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has dismissed calls for a single political party to represent the Mt Kenya region, calling the push undemocratic and a danger to Kenya’s multiparty system.
Speaking at Kariene Market in Imenti Central, Meru County, Munya criticized leaders who are advancing the idea, warning that such a move would restrict political freedom and undermine public choice. “Kenya is a multiparty democracy,” said Munya during the launch of a new PNU office in Kariene. “Let people sell their ideas and allow wananchi to decide. You can’t dictate that the entire mountain must support one party.”
Munya, who leads the Party of National Unity (PNU), said the party will remain politically independent and field candidates in all elective seats in the 2027 general election. He described efforts to limit the region to one political outfit as “a return to old habits that the Constitution sought to end.”
Munya defended the party’s legacy, emphasizing its national character and founding principles under the late President Mwai Kibaki. “Chama ilitengenezwa iunganishe Kenya, ndiyo maana inaitwa Party of National Unity,” Munya told the crowd. “PNU believes in unity in diversity. Tribe or religion should not be used to divide people we are all Kenyans.”
Munya revealed that PNU is in discussions with other parties to support a joint presidential candidate. However, he clarified that the party would independently contest all other seats.
Munya also hinted at former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i as a potential flagbearer in the 2027 race. Talks, he said, are ongoing and will focus on shared policy goals. “PNU is talking to parties that believe in a united and inclusive Kenya,” he said. “We will support a presidential candidate who reflects those values.”
Munya, who served as Meru’s first governor from 2013 to 2017, announced his return to local politics. He confirmed that he will vie for the county’s top seat in 2027, signaling an effort to rebuild grassroots support for PNU.
The event also marked the opening of a new PNU branch office, which Munya said is part of a broader effort to revive the party’s ground operations across Mt Kenya.
Calls for a unified political vehicle in the Mt Kenya region have resurfaced in recent months, with some leaders citing the need for a stronger collective voice ahead of the next election. But critics argue that forcing unity under one party risks silencing alternative views and limiting voter choice.
Munya’s remarks echo growing concerns from local leaders who fear the return of political conformity in a region historically known for its vibrant competition. “We must allow room for different voices,” Munya said. “That is the only way democracy thrives.”
His comments come amid shifting alliances in Kenya’s political landscape as parties position themselves for the 2027 general elections.
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