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By JOE KIMATHI
The Nyeri branch
executive committee of
the ruling Kenya
African National
Union (Kanu) has
summoned Mr Waruru
Kanja to appear before
it next Monday to
explain his recent
remarks against the
branch.
The former MP for Nyeri
(Mukurueni), Mr Matu Wamae
(Mathira) and Mr Nderitu
Githua (Nyeri).
Mr Kanja did not attend the
meeting as he does not hold a
party post.
According to Mr Kairo, "the
:ranch executive committee disissed in detail accusations
ade by Mr Waruru Kanja at
iringu Stadium on February
was reported during a recent
mass meeting of former Mau
Mau fighters to have accused
the branch leaders of trying to
sabotage the rally.
The summon was among six
resolutions made by the committee after a five-hour closed-door
meeting at the party offices in
Nyeri town.
The resolutions were read by
the branch secretary, Mr David
Munene Kairo, at a subsequent
press briefing at the White
Rhino Hotel.
The meeting was chaired by Mr
Isava Mathenge, and attended by
Mr Kanja: Addressed 1au Mao
meeting.
all branch officials, including
three MPs, Mr Ngumbu Njururi
After long discussions, to
\chich many committee members
contributed, it was unanimously
decided to suxirnon him before
the committee on Monday,
March 17, at 11 a.m. to explain
the accusations he made against
the ruling party," Mr Kairo said.
During the much talked about
Ruringu meeting, Mr Kanja, who
was the convener, attacked the
organisers of a separate Kanu
meeting scheduled for the same
day at Naro-Moru township,
where Vice-President Mwai
Kibaki was expected to be among
the speakers.
It was, however, cancelled at
the eleventh hour.
Mr Kanja claimed at Ruringu
that the Kanu abortive meeting,
called by Mr Mathenge, was
intended to sabotage the exfreedom fighters' rally, and
charged that the organisers had
been loyalists during the struggle
for independence.
Yesterday's party branch
meeting backed a press statement by Mr Mathenge on
ebruary 24 in which he reacted
sharply to Mr Kanja's remark.
He indicated at that time that
the branch might consider taking
disciplinary measures against the
former PIP.
In a strongly-worded resolution, apparently referring to
the ex-Mau Mau rally speakers,
the coin mittee said "it strongly
warned straying and outmoded
politicians not to reopen old
wounds or turn Nyeri into a
political battlefield."
Present during yesterday's
briefing included Mr Mathenge,
Mr Wamae, Mr Githua, the
branch organising secretary, Mr
Muruthi Muriithi, the treasurer,
Mr Kihoro Matu, the assistant
treasurer, Mr Mathenge
Wachira, the women's leader,
Mrs Grace Ngambi, the women's
secretary, Miss Priscilla Kimaru,
the district youth leader, Mr
Charles Muriithi, and the
Mayor tif Nyeri, Coun Sylvester
Nderi.
Mr Kibaki, who is the MP for
Othaya, attended neither the
meeting nor the briefing as he was
opening a seminar at the nearby
Green Hills Hotel.
Another resolution said the
branch and the entire people of
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Col. 6
Kan u7
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Kanja,
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Nyeri had total confidence in and
reaffirmed their loyalty to Presi
dent Moi, the Government and
the ruling party.
They also expressed total confidence in Mr Kibaki 4 local MPs,
Mr Mathenge and all other
elected leaders in the district.
Mr Kairo continued: "The
branch fully recognises and
supports the work done by Mau
Mao lighters to liberate the
country from the colonialists.
Naii u sup ports e fforts by
well meaning people to collect
historical records, materials and
statements for eventual publication as true Mau Mau history.
"The branch will not however,
entertain any invasion from any
quarter of the peace and unity of
Nyeri people."
The meeting of former Mau
Mau fighters was to discuss,
anong others, publication of "the
true Mau Mau history", and the
proposed film on the armed
struggle for independence.
Asked whether the summoning
of Mr Kanja was the beginning of
a disciplinary measure, Mr
Mathenge replied: "That will be
decided in the light of the
outcome of his appearance before
the committee."
On whether the meeting had
taken issue with Mr Njururi's
failure to defend the party
against Mr Kanja's remark
during the Mau Mau rally, which
the Assistant Minister addressed,
the branch chief replied:
"He exonerated himself at a
press conference later." Mr
Njururi is the branch vicechairman.
Curious politicians and the
public milled around the Kanu
office throughout the meeting
and stayed on to eavesdrop on the
press briefing.
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at the G. P.O. as
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