A further split is looming in Njuri Ncheke Council of Elders after those in Tharaka-Nithi warned their Meru counterparts against visiting their region or meeting their leaders.
The elders led by the council’s Tharaka-Nithi branch Chairman Kangori M’Thaara said they don’t want to be involved in the supremacy battles being witnessed between two factions in Meru County.
This comes few days after a splinter group of the Meru elders led by Mr Linus Katheera (chairman) and Josphat Murangiri (secretary-general) paid a visit to Tharaka-Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki at his office in Kathwana and announced they would work with him.
The governor also declared that he would work with the splinter group based in Meru County. He also pledged financial support for the construction of a second shrine at Igaironi in Tharaka constituency.
Mr Murangiri accused the faction led by Mr Paul M’Ithinkia (chairman), Mr Washington Muthamia (secretary-general) and Mr M’Thaara of holding night meetings to plan how to sabotage leaders in the two counties.
He also accused them of spearheading a campaign for the renaming of Tharaka-Nithi and Meru counties to Meru South and Meru north respectively, saying the move is against the will of the elected leaders.
However, Mr M’Thaara denied the allegations and said Mr Murangiri and his colleagues visited Governor Njuki for their selfish gains, and that they should stop tarnishing their names.
He said they will not allow the Meru elders to interfere with the sanctity of Igaironi shrine as they did to Nchiru by fighting inside and allowing women and children to access it.