Tension in Raila's ODM party after new decision
The leader is accused of managing a shambolic nominations exercise that saw top politicians in ODM lose in primaries
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A huge section of ODM party primary losers, have vowed to mount a revenge mission against the parties election board chairperson Judith Pareno.
The MPs led by National Assembly Deputy Minority leader and Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo, have vowed to shoot down the nomination of Mrs Pareno to the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA).
The MPs have accused the party elections board chairperson of plotting their downfall in the just concluded primaries.
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The lawmakers have vehemently resisted attempts by their party to cow all members into voting for Pareno, arguing that she had mismanaged the party nominations.
The opposition coalition, presented four names, three from ODM party and one from Wiper party for EALA positions. The opposition had only been allocated four slots.
Other names forwarded by the Opposition were Kennedy Kalonzo (son to Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka), Mr Abubakar Zein and Ronald Ngeny.
Midiwo, who lost his Gem constituency ticket, accused some members of ODM party of “sitting in hotel rooms and coming up with names.”
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He added: “If we allow somebody to sit in a hotel room and come up with the names and then ask the National Assembly to rubber-stamp, then you would have killed democracy. If you are a person who can commit crimes against some of us and we are made to look like losers, then it is wrong.”
On the other hand, Jubilee Party, through Majority Leader Aden Duale, presented 15 names out of which the House will vote for five. The House is set to vote on the names in two weeks’ time.
Mr Duale bashed Mr Musyoka’s move arguing that the former Vice-President was using his position to promote his relatives.
“I have nothing against Kalonzo’s son. I speak for Kenyans. You cannot use your position in a party to nominate your relatives. It is a conflict of interest. We will make sure that he does not sail through,” said Mr Duale.
Duale added: “The law is very clear that members of EALA who represent our country will be nominated from the political parties in the partner states, not independent candidates.”
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House Speaker Mr Justin Muturi however declined to make a ruling on whether the Opposition should bring more names. He argued that he is yet to receive the list of opposition nominees.
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