ODM is a cult like Catholicism - Duale's comment raises uproar

The former National Assembly Majority Leader compared the Orange party with the structure of the Catholic Church claiming that both were cults.

"ODM is a cult... nobody can speak. It is like the Catholic Church with the Pope at the head then the structures. But Jubilee is a very democratic party, I condone those aligned with the President, those aligned with the DP, those who use vulgar language, those who utter unpalatable words and those are found in every political formation," adding that he had been a founding member of ODM and had left due to suppression.

Aden Duale finally removed as Majority Leader, replaced by Amos Kimunya Aden Duale finally removed as Majority Leader, replaced by Amos Kimunya Pulse Live Kenya

Responding to the statement, ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna demanded an apology from the Garissa Township MP insisting that Duale had insulted Constitutional rights of Cotholics and ODM party members.

"As an @TheODMparty life member and fully baptized and confirmed member of the Catholic Church, I take great exception to the comparison by Duale of these institutions with cults. Duale must apologize and forthwith respect each one's freedom of association and worship," he stated.

Nairobi-based lawyer Donald Kipkorir added: "Roman Catholic Church is the oldest monotheistic religion bar Judaism. Islam and Protestantism are its offshoots. That my friend Aden Duale syncs ODM, a temporal political body and my Church, an ecclesiastical body is heretical to the largest body of believers in Kenya and the world."

Showing more grace to Duale, former Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando advised the Garissa Township legislator to show tolerance to other religions.

"Just apologise without justifying the slip. You likened ODM 'cult' to Catholic Church, then you so defended a 'leaking' IEBC. Both erroneous. Please avoid matters of FAITH in politics it's fluid, divisive, sectarian," Wa Kabando advised before congratulating Duale for an "informative" discussion.

Mr Duale took to his verified Twitter account to explain that he was only referring to the political party and not the religious institution.

"My remark was in reference to the ODM party and NOT the Catholic Church as a cult. I have tremendous respect for the Catholic Church and its elaborate structures. I'm a man of faith who respects all the teachings of other religions," Duale explained.

Former National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale Pulse Live Kenya

Duale, a known ally of Deputy President William Ruto, had appeared on Citizen TV's JKL Show alongside National Assembly Minority Leader Aden Duale to discuss the political alignments ahead of the 2022 General Election.

The vocal North-Eastern region politician pointed out that the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM party leader Raila Odinga was to blame for the fallout between the President and his deputy.

"Let me reiterate that I was one of the people within Jubilee who embraced the handshake. The DP and many others in Jubilee were skeptical and now they have been vindicated because the end result has been the process of the handshake ending up in Mombasa with a group of tribal leaders on how to organize them in order to seize power in the next General Election," the Garissa Township MP stated.

Duale added that the handshake led to the humiliation of the DP, his office and those who chose to be associated with him, citing his own ouster from National Assembly Majority Leader as one of the consequences of the handshake.