Raila warning to rebel MPs: End tribal politics
Posted by African Press International on October 5, 2008
Prime minister and ODM party leader Raila Odinga during a past party function. Photo/FILE
The political battle between Prime Minister Raila Odinga and some Rift Valley MPs was rekindled on Friday when the ODM boss warned the leaders to stop divisive politics.
Mr Odingas warning came as debate raged over the relationship between ODM and smaller parties which supported it in the last general elections.
For some, the small parties including Water minister Charity Ngilus Narc and the United Democratic Movement (UDM) which has been fielding candidates in by-elections in the Rift Valley should disband and join the main party.
For others, the parties should continue existing independently and continue cooperating with ODM.
On Friday, Mr Odinga challenged politicians to focus on uniting the public on development issues instead of preaching tribal politics.
We have much work to do, he said, and regretted that the leaders preaching tribalism were very educated. He asked: Why do I hear some leaders mumble aloud that directors of a national parastatal should come from their community?
Mr Odinga spoke during the Catholic Universitys graduation ceremony in his Langata constituency.
Mr Odinga has lately been facing opposition from politicians mainly from the South Rift who have been grumbling over job appointments in the coalition government.
The recent by-elections following the death of former Roads minister Kipkalia Kones (Bomet) and assistant minister Lorna Laboso (Sotik) heightened the dissent with some ODM leaders opposing their own party.
However, ODM emerged victorious with Mr Koness widow Beatrice taking Bomet and Lornas sister Dr Joyce Laboso taking Sotik.
And on Friday, the PM revisited the subject calling on leaders to stop what he called the culture of our people.
Mr Odinga told politicians that their continued divisive stance amounted to poisoning the young generation who should form the pillars of a united country.
Mr Odinga also talked of chauvinistic and parochial politics that could make it difficult for the country to recover from the political crisis experienced early this year.
Did we realise that the violence nearly tore our country along ethnic lines? he asked. Mr Odinga said the lessons learnt should be used to improve and plan for the future.
On the future of ODM affiliates, some MPs say the smaller parties were becoming a thorn in the flesh of their party. According to the lawmakers, the parties were undermining ODM unity by confusing the electorate about the nature of their relationship with the principal.
We have to review our association with these so-called affiliates as a matter of urgency, said nominated MP Musa Sirma.
They are causing a lot of confusion and fomenting disunity within ODM. The only solution is to either incorporate them fully or kick them out altogether, he said.
But in a swift rejoinder, Mrs Ngilu said she is not about to give up her party.
Speaking in her office on Friday, Mrs Ngilu said she will remain the chairperson of Narc.
I will never allow anyone to treat me the way I have been treated before, she said in apparent reference to the hostility she faced from some former affiliate parties and members of Narc after she declined to dissolve the party ahead of elections last year
Among the ODM MPs who have called on the minister to disband her party are Mr Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda), Mr Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem), Mr John Pesa (Migori) and Mr Oyugi Magwanga (Kasipul Kabondo).
Other than Narc, the other small parties affiliated to ODM are UDM which has one MP, Prof Hellen Sambili of Mogotio who is also the Sports and Youth minister.
Keiyo South MP Jackson Kiptanui said the small parties should be left alone as they played an instrumental role in campaigning for Mr Odinga.
It is hypocritical for some of our colleagues to claim that we do not have a working relationship with these parties now that we are in government, said Mr Kiptanui.
During the recent by-elections, ODM and UDM fought a bruising battle for the Bomet and Sotik seats yet they were supposed to be on one side.
Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto defied ODM to vigorously campaign for UDM candidate Brigadier Alexander Sitienei.
Consequently, a section of ODM MPs asked him to step down and seek fresh mandate on a different party. However, Mr Ruto maintains that he did nothing wrong since UDM is an affiliate of ODM.
But ODM party chief whip, Mr Midiwo, sees UDM as an enemy.
As far as I am concerned, we do not have any relationship with UDM. This is just an excuse being used by certain individuals who are bent on wrecking the ODM. Had we any understanding, then our parties would not have fronted different candidates during the by-elections, said Mr Midiwo.
Konoin MP Julius Kones differs. As far as we know, the two parties have a working relationship. If it wasnt so, how come ODM appointed an MP from the party as a minister, asked Dr Kones in reference to Prof Sambili.
However, Mr Sirma said the two parties cooperated only during the election of the Speaker of the National Assembly in January. He urged Mr Odinga to rescind Prof Sambilis appointment saying it was a fatal mistake.
I dont understand why the Prime Minister appointed her in the first place. It was the genesis of the current confusion. Our biggest headache now is how to banish the party and other affiliates. Mr Odinga should act quickly and clarify our partys relationship with them, he said.
Dr Kones said those denying the relationship between the two parties felt threatened by UDMs popularity in the Rift Valley.
They are simply looking for ways to kill the party. Although we are loyal to ODM, we shall make sure it honours its agreement with UDM and other affiliates, he said.
In the latest by-elections UDMs Sitienei garnered 13, 843 to ODMs Dr Laboso, 24,267. Brigadier Sitienei result was a dramatic improvement from the 2,000 votes he polled during the ODM nominations.
In June, UDM had narrowly missed to clinch the Ainamoi seat which fell vacant following the murder of area MP David Too in January.
During the by-elections, UDMs candidate Dr Paul Chepkwony garnered 15,689 votes to ODMs Benjamin Langat who polled 17,532 to clinch the seat.
Mr Isaac Ruto said ODM retained the three seats because of sympathy as a result of the tragic circumstances in which the leaders perished.
Were the circumstances different, reckons Mr Ruto, UDM would have triumphed over ODM by big margins.
UDM has been touted as the party of the future in the Rift Valley.
Indeed most MPs from the community who spoke to the Saturday Nation hold the same opinion. They revealed that the community will be nurturing the party as a bargaining chip come the 2012 elections.
The party was recently registered afresh with new top leadership. Former Deputy Chief of General Staff, Lt-Gen John Koech, is the new chairman while the Rev Phillemon Kiptum Koech is the vice-chairman.
Other officials are is Mr Martin Ole Kamwaro (secretary general), Francis Koech (national treasurer) and Ms Nancy Njeru (national assistant treasurer).
Former Konoin MP Nathaniel Chebelyon is the national trustee and party adviser.
We have rolled up an aggressive tentative programme for a membership drive, said Gen Koech who is also the chairman of the Poverty Eradication Committee in the ministry of Planning and Vision 2030.
He added: We shall soon open offices countrywide to register new members and popularise our party.
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API/Source.nation.ke
