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Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance leader Raila Odinga has castigated Parliament and the Judiciary for allegedly being held hostage by the executive.

Raila claimed that the two institutions were no longer exercising their independence after being captured by President William Ruto.

Speaking in Kajiado during an interdenominational prayer service, Raila particularly took issue with Parliament where he said MPs have been passing bills tabled by the executive without any scrutiny.

“During our time, we took time to scrutinize all bills and motions presented by the government. We made necessary amendments and shot down all those that were not of help to Kenyans,” Raila said.

Without providing any evidence, Raila claimed that some of the legislators were apparently being sponsored for local and foreign trips by the executive in a bid to silence them.

“I wonder what kind of laws MPs in the current parliament make when they pass two bills within a day. The executive has manipulated them and whenever any bill is presented before them, th government ensures that the MPs do not have time to go through them. Our MPs have become voting machines,” Raila claimed.

The ODM leader cited the recent passage of four Health Bills….. Primary Healthcare Fund, Social Health Insurance and Emergency Fund and the Chronic and Critical Illness Fund within two days as an example of how the State has captured Parliament.

No UHC structure

Raila claimed that President Ruto’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) has been implemented haphazardly and without adequate structures in place.

Comparing President Ruto’s UHC to his proposed Babacare scheme, Raila said the current government efforts are meant to tax Kenyans more.

“Ours was well thought and would have been implemented without straining Kenyans with more taxations. Our Babacare and proposed protection scheme for single mothers had been tried and tested elsewhere in Africa,” Raila claimed.

On the Judiciary, Raila claimed  institution has allegedly being making some its judgments based on directives from State house, just like Parliament. The opposition chief criticised the courts for failing to protect settlers on the controversial land belonging to the East Africa Portland Cement Company (EAPCC).

Defend settlers

“Our brother and Wiper leader  Kalonzo Musyoka had to adorn his legal regalia in an attempt to defend the settlers on the Mavoko land, but the Executive had already issued the courts with the directive on what to do,” claimed Raila. Describing the recent demolitions as inhumane, Raila took issue with EAPCC for advertising the sale of part of the recovered land few days after the evictions.

“It is very inhuman for a state agency to evict people from a land they have lived on for years and thereafter put up the same land on sale. This should not happen in our Kenya,” he said.

Raila also criticised President Ruto for rushing to side with Israel in the current war between it and Palestine, saying that justice would also be found in the Middle East if historical injustice is addressed.

“Palestinians have a right to independence and freedom. This must be first addressed before anything else,” said the opposition chief.

Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua claimed Kenya Kwanza leadership is out to scuttle the ongoing reforms dialogue.  Karua, who was Raila’s running mate in the last general election, said the dialogue team must address the high cost of living and electoral reforms.

“Though our representatives in the talks team Kalonzo and Jeremiah Kioni are very strong individuals, they should be careful because they are dealing with sly foxes,” said Karua. The service prayed for peace and justice, national dialogue, improvement of economy and peace in Israel and Palestine.

During the occasion, Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku insisted that he remains a proud member of the Orange Democratic Movement party. Lenku said he is not ashamed of his association with the Opposition outfit. He noted that Azimio contributed a lot to his re-election in the August 2022 general election and he is happy to associate with them.