The Orange Democratic Movement party (ODM) has issued a statement on its stand on Friday’s meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Jubilee party leaders drawn from Mount Kenya region at Sagana State Lodge.
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File image of ODM leaders together with party leader Raila Odinga addressing the press at Orange House in Nairobi
In its statement, ODM praised the President for remaining focused on the handshake and the Building Bridges Initiative and for refusing to be drawn into petty politics by his critics.
The statement read in part that “I wish to thank President Uhuru Kenyatta for remaining focused on the Handshake and BBI, which are fundamental instruments in the effort to remake the Kenyan nation”.
President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Sagana meeting
Pulse Live Kenya
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The party also thanked the head of state for giving the recent Kibra by-election a clean bill of health despite his deputy crying foul and going on a rampage on Twitter alleging that the poll was marred by violence and blaming Raila Odinga and his party for the chaos.
We also thank President Kenyatta for seeing the recent Kibra by election for what we in ODM thought it was: a strong indication that with unity and interest of the country at heart, a peaceful election is possible, not only in Kibra but in any part of the great Republic of Kenya.” Added the statement.
The party also reiterated the president’s stand that the handshake and BBI is not about succession politics, but a genuine initiative to unite the nation and address its pressing needs.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta and his brother Raila Odinga have said it before and the president said it again in Sagana; the handshake and the BBI are never about 2022 and any individual leader’s presidential ambitions. It is about Kenya and it’s posterity.
“It is about the country staying united and focused in addressing its pressing needs and urgent challenges through a consultative and inclusive process of national rebirth, now and into the future.” Read the statement.
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Disgruntled Tangatanga MPs hold meeting to plot next move
Friday’s meeting which was organized in secrecy saw the Tangatanga faction of Jubilee cry foul, alleging that they had been sidelined and humiliated with their voices muzzled out.
Jubilee MPs shortly after the Sagana meeting
Pulse Live Kenya
The disgruntled MPs, totaling 15 in number hurriedly convened a meeting at the home of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua with where they vented out their frustrations as they plotted their next move.
Those in attendance included Susan Kihika (Nakuru Senator) and MPs Jayne Kihara (Naivasha), Mary Wamaua (Maragua), Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati), John Kiarie (Dagorreti South) and Ndindi Nyoro of Kiharu.
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Also present were Woman Reps Catherine Waruguru (Laikipia) Beatrice Nkatha (Tharaka Nithi), Purity Ngirichi (Kirinyaga) and Rahab Mukami of Nyeri.
Participants at the meeting discussed their alleged humiliation by the President and how to counter the same in the coming days.
It is also understood that the Tangatanga faction schemed on how to oppose the BBI report upon its release eve after the president made his stand on the same known.
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