Murang'a business leaders warn Wa Iria over inciteful messages

The business community in Murang'a has waded into the political supremacy battles in Murang'a county pitting Equity Bank #ticker:EQTY chair Peter Munga against Governor Mwangi Wa Iria ahead of the August 8 polls.

During a press conference in Murang'a town directors of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the county which Munga is a member said that investors must be respected.

“Political aspirants should desist from dragging and targeting any of our members into political intrigues under the guise that the said members are politically aligned to their opponents,” the branch chair Kiguta Kamau.

This follows an uproar by the governor over high water tariffs in the county demanding that Mr Munga the chair of Murang'a Water and Sewerage Company (Muwasco) adjusts and drops the rates.

Mr Kiguta, who is also a director at Muwasco said that water tariffs were being used to wage war on Mr Munga over his political differences with the county boss insisting that attacks on the business community will amount to harassment and intimidation.

Word has it that the Equity Chair is funding the governor's opponent deepening the rift between the allies turned rivals.

But Mr Kiguta noted that their members had a right to support their preferred candidate as it is their constitutional right and warned the county boss against attacking one of their own.

“At this time of heightened competitive political activities between various aspirants, it is imperative for these aspirants to conduct their political campaigns with decorum, sobriety and maturity,” he said.

He said that it would be unfortunate if their political differences destroy the business environment and scare away investors.

He warned that inciteful utterances from politicians would destabilise the peace and tranquility of the business environment urging leaders to be cautious in their campaigns.