Embu MPs demand for fair share of national cake

Six legislators from Embu have demanded for more appointments to senior government positions for people from the county.

The leaders complained that the community was marginalised by the National Government in sharing of key posts, yet they voted overwhelmingly for Jubilee Party in the last General Elections.

They pointed out that the few Embu people in public service who excelled in their work and rose through the ranks were being removed on assuming top positions, something they vowed to resist.

Speaking during a fundraiser at Archangels Kanyueri High School in Mbeere North sub-county for expansion of school infrastructure, the lawmakers said the Government had marginalised the community further by the recent suspension of Kenya Forestry Services head Emilio Mugo, one of the handfuls of senior Embu people in government.

Embu Senator Njeru Ndwiga, Woman Representative Jane Wanjuki and MPs Muriuki Njagagua, Eric Muchangi, John Muchiri and Geoffrey King’ang’i said the community was a major stakeholders in forming of the Jubilee Government and should thus get an equal share of the national cake.

“Whenever we raise alarm that we are marginalised in the government, we are hastily reminded that we have the position of the Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi. Does it mean we will have only that one? Don’t we also have other senior appointments from the president’s and the deputy president’s backyards?” he wondered.

King’ang’i observed that he previously served as National Cereals and Produce  Board chairman and Njeru Ndwiga was also a parastatal head, but once they joined elective posts no Embu people were appointed to replace them.

“We are especially angered by the sacking of KFS’s Mugo who was not a political appointee but a technical officer who performed well. Sacking him was a big mistake,” he said.

Njagagua and Wanjuki echoed the sentiment saying Mugo had been evaluated and scored highly hence wanted him reinstated unconditionally.

Ndwiga called for an ambassadorial seat for a resident of Embu, specifically the confirming of a woman who has been serving as an acting ambassador.

The lawmaker’s cry comes after Environment and Forestry CS Keriako Tobiko recently suspended Mugo and other foresters over destruction of forests.