You are big traitors, Raila tells MPs who met President Ruto

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has told off MPs who visited State House on Tuesday saying they were “traitors” even as a member of his party kickstarted a process to have them punished.

Raila said the MPs did not require to visit State House to solicit support for development noting that Parliament allocates funds for various activities and projects including the devolved units funds.

The ODM leader, who was chairing Azimio parliamentary group, told his troops that the eight MPs who went to State House to pay a courtesy call on President William Ruto are ‘traitors’.

“The resources are being allocated by Parliament. The days when MPs would go to State House and kneel down to get funds for development are gone. These people must be seen for what they are —‘traitors’ in the course of revolution,” said Raila.

Lang’ata MP Felix Odiwour alias Jalang’o who attended the State House meeting was ejected from  a retreat of  party members in Machakos.

 “When Baba walked in one of his securitymen told me to walk out and I walked out. I came here because I am a member of ODM and Azimio. When we walked in, there was a group of boys who blocked me and said that I will not come in,” he said.

 “I feel bad because you know I love Baba and I am a member of ODM and I really feel bad. I can’t regret meeting President William Ruto,” he said.

Seek permission

Raila told his troops that politics and development are intertwined, adding that a member of a political party should seek permission from the party to visit the President on any other agenda, which is not personal.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka warned the opposition luminaries about being with the government and not leading the people to the direction they want to be led.

While addressing the MPs at the Parliamentary Group retreat, Kalonzo charged that leaders must be ahead of their constituents if they are to wade the political storms in future.

Separately, Migori Senator Eddy Oketch now wants his Orange party to deregister and expel MPs Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Paul Abuor (Rongo), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Jalango and Kisumu Senator Prof Tom Ojienda.

 Awendo lawmaker Walter Owino’s name is conspicuously missing from the list yet he was also at State House.

According to Oketch, this is because they have been enjoying such privileges as members of the ODM party whose ideologies they no longer subscribe to.

Through Aguko, Osman and Company Advocates, Senator Oketch argues that the said members treated the party to blatant arrogant violation of the party constitution as read together with Section 14 A (1) of the Political Parties Act.

The provision states that: ‘When a member may be deemed to have resigned from a political party , a person who, while being a member of the a political party shall be deemed to have resigned from that party if that person promotes the ideology, interests or policies of another political party.

“The aforementioned members have shown close association with a different political party whereupon they have been captured by the media appearing together with both the party leader and the deputy party leader of the United Democratic Alliance whose ideologies, interests and policies they have been promoting from within the ODM party,” reads part of the letter sent

Elsewhere, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has defended ODM MPs who visited the State House with the invitation of the president saying they should not be crucified for seeking development for their electorate.

Still strong

He said leaders should not be miss-understood for having an audience with the president irrespective of their political party affiliation. 

“We need to understand that at some point, leaders must talk with each other, I believe even we in opposition, if Ruto calls me, and says Richard come and see me, I will go, but that does mean I am going to become a member of Kenya Kwanza,” posed Onyonka.

Speaking in Mombasa on the sidelines of the senate finance and budget committee retreat, Onyonka downplayed assertions that Azimio coalition was fading out saying the political outfit is still strong.

He added: “I will stand and say Mr President I thank you, I know your capacity and my people are in need of a road is it possible you allocate money for that road, after that I will shake his hand and walk out, if he gives me some cash I will take it, there is nothing wrong with that. If he doesn’t,  I will still appreciate because I expect him to give me the road.”

Onyonka said the leaders have a role and a right to discuss with the president on matters of development and people should move out of the confusion.

 “I want to state that those who drafted the constitution knew very well that there is a need to talk with each other, then talk to each other, the problem with the ODM party is that they see as if you had gone to seek handout,” said Onyonka.

The ODM senator said it was unreasonable for legislators to be rebuked for seeking development for their people. He says he is not against the idea of Azimio Rallies to destabilize the government.