Why Jubilee MPs voted overwhelmingly for Raila's brother Oburu

dennis kibet

December 15, 2017 10:18 AM

In the unprecedented move, Jubilee legislators rallied behind Oburu Oginga.

In an unprecedented move, Jubilee legislators on Thursday rallied behind NASAs list of Kenyas representatives to the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) by voting overwhelmingly for Raila Odingas elder brother Oburu Odinga.

Another notable personality who was surprisingly voted for in the NASA line-up was Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka's son Kennedy Musyoka.

In the election, Musyoka garnered 309 votes, Oburu Oginga (243), Abdikadir Aden (234), and Fatuma Ibrahim (143) to represent the NASA side.

The voting which comprised of both members of The Senate and National Assembly, was done through a secret ballot.

They are now expected to be sworn in on Monday next week at Arusha in Tanzania for the assembly to officially start its business in January 2018.

According to The Nation, the Jubilee MPs cited Oburu's experience and education as to why they voted for Raila's brother who is President Uhuru Kenyatta's bitter rival.

Oburu has been a legislator since 1994 when he succeeded his father, Jaramogi, as MP for Bondo and has a PhD in Economics.

“I have heard many youth complaining why MPs voted for Oburu, the youths did not even present their candidature, so how could we vote for people who are absent,” Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro said.

The MP said there was also lack of other possible alternatives and also Oburu is well known by many people.

“We wanted to show that we mean well even as we compete,” another Jubilee MP disclosed.

Earlier this year, National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale led Jubilee MPs in rejecting the names of Musyoka and Oburu when the two names were presented to parliament for approval.

“ODM and Wiper are huge parties. We will not allow Raila and Kalonzo to reward their brothers and sons. This is the kind of leadership Kenyans should expect if Raila becomes the President,” Duale said.

dennis kibet