On November 21, 2018, a political turf war broke out between supporters of Trade CS Peter Munya and Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi over credit for trade engagements with China, especially deals touching on macadamia and avocados.
Kiraitu’s side says the governor met investors from China led by Anhui Province Governor Zhou Xian, and that the talks were aimed at building friendship and cooperation that would benefit residents. According to information shared by Kiraitu’s communication director Purity Nkirote, the discussions also looked at setting up manufacturing and packaging plants in Meru so the county could export processed goods directly to China.
The governor and his administration had spent two weeks touring China, and the trip quickly became a talking point online after his supporters praised him for what they described as agreements on avocado and macadamia exports.
Munya’s allies, however, insist the initiatives were started by the former governor. The competing claims have turned the trade mission into a political contest over who deserves the credit for opening the China market.
Three months earlier, Kiraitu launched a Sh90 million project to distribute seedlings for the two crops. In the statement circulated by his office, the governor said the aim was to help farmers benefit from value addition and wider markets.
“Governor Kiraitu aims at ensuring the farmers in Meru engage and benefit in value addition for their crops. During his visit to China, the governor learned that some of the macadamia sold in the country come from Meru county, which is among the top producers of high quality macadamia nuts,” the statement said.
“Meru is an agricultural county and with this kind of cooperation, the farmers will expand their trade beyond the regional borders and uplift their living standards,” the statement added.
The meeting also examined a possible investment in tourism, with Meru National Park named as one of the areas of interest.
