Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has called on the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition leadership to embrace political tolerance to foster unity among Kenyans.

Speaking during a fundraiser at St. Joseph Tonga Parish Catholic Church in Suba South, Homa Bay County, Wetang’ula argued that most elected leaders from the opposition side, who have decided to work closely with the Kenya Kwanza administration, get castigated and sometimes abused in their backyard.

He said it was wrong for Azimio’s top leadership to call for peace and unity among Kenyans publicly and at the same time criticize leaders supporting President William Ruto’s government.

According to the speaker, for the country to realize real unity leaders must be tolerant to views and opinions from different sides.

He wants political leaders to be sincere and ready to put into practice what they say in public.

“We should stand firm and walk the true path of unity and togetherness. To be united it’s not a must be in the same uniform but to walk in the same vision and direction,” Wetang’ula said.

Wetang’ula said Kenya has come far as a country and leaders should be on the front line of uniting Kenyans.

Wetangula, who was in the company of the Cabinet Secretary for ICT & Digital Economy Eliud Owalo and former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, told Azimio leadership to allow its MPs who see it wise to work with the government to do freely.

The leaders were hosted by Suba South MP Caroli Omondi. Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma also attended the event.

Omondi is among the MPs from Raila Odinga’s Luo Nyanza backyard who have been on the receiving end for agreeing to work with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Others are Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Mark Nyamita (Uriri) and Paul Abuor (Rongo). Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda is also on the list.

The leaders have been criticized for working closely with President Ruto’s administration.

On Sunday, Wetangula recalled that he also walked with Raila on the same political journey in the 2013 and 2017 elections without success.

He said it is not a must that people must succeed only when they are in a particular political party.

“I don’t hold political grudges. But I must tell you that I left CORD and NASA and now I’m the speaker of the national assembly,” he added.

He also gave an example of Owalo who was Raila’s right-hand man in the 2013 and 2017 general elections.

“My Luhya community overwhelmingly voted for Raila’s father Jaramogi in 1992 presidential election. There’s no need of rebuking others when they can succeed elsewhere,” Wetang’ula said.

Owalo reminded the Luo community that they are past the 2022 presidential election, adding that they should focus on development.

He said the Kenya Kwanza government is undertaking development across the country regardless of their voting pattern.

“Luos must understand that we have a government whose agenda is to improve their lives. We must stop politics of rhetorics because they currently add no value,” Owalo said.

Kidero told Azimio leadership to recognize Ruto’s presidency on grounds that they have also agreed to support their political competitors.

Kidero contested Homa Bay gubernatorial seat against Governor Gladys Wanga in the 2022 elections.

He asked Raila and other Azimio brigades to give President Ruto time to deliver on his mandate.

Kidero said they embraced Raila when he decided to work with former presidents Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.

“Recognize Ruto as the president of Kenya as we have also done to our competitors. We’re not betrayers as others want people to believe. We are seeking development for our people as well,” Kidero said.

Omondi vowed to continue working with the Kenya Kwanza government to bring development to locals.

He said he will disregard party politics in order to develop his constituents.

“If developing our people is what can make us be abused that’s I’m stupid like my mother so be it. Suba region has lagged behind so much and I can’t sit back and see it continues,” Omondi said.

Kaluma told Wetang’ula to use his wisdom as a speaker and experience to ensure ongoing bipartisan talks between the opposition and the government succeed.

“I sit with Wetang’ula in the speaker’s panel and I know your capacity. Let the bipartisan talks achieve its reasons why it was started,” Kaluma said.