Raila Attacks Jalang'o For Visiting Ruto, Orders Him To Quit

Azimio party leader, Raila Odinga criticised Members of Parliament (MP) for offering themselves to work with President William Ruto's government.

While addressing a Parliamentary Group meeting in Machakos County, Raila advised the lawmakers against abandoning their mandate to politick, stating that it was what they have been paid to do.

He added that the aspect of development should be left to Kenyans who have a right to beg the Executive for development projects.

"Politics and development are intertwined like two mating dogs. You're paid to politick. If the time for politics is over then we close Parliament unless the bureaucrats continue doing the development.

"The work of politicians is to politick and politics is development and that's why there's no need for politicians to go and beg the Executive for development, that is a right for the people of Kenya. The people of Kenya pay taxes," he said.

He further argued that the party must remain one that keeps fighting for devolution and that they should think twice before being wooed by the generosity of President Ruto.

"They pay taxes and that's why it should not be as if it is the generosity of the president that you're going to get hopes. That because the president is considerate, you're going to get water, health centres, affordable housing scheme, that is why you're in the national government, with a clear mandate, and you also have the county government with a clear mandate and our party must be seen to be defending devolution," he added.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party leader went on to demand that the lawmakers who recently met President Ruto at State House, Nairobi should leave their parties under Azimio la Umoja, terming the actions of politicians that are intending to quit to join the current government as doublespeak.

"The Members of Parliament who defected need to resign and go, and seek a fresh mandate from the electorate" Raila ordered. 

“Very cheap, unprincipled for a political party to say after the election you are now resigning and going to join the coalition that you ran against. That is political prostitution."

According to Raila, the MPs who met Ruto are after their own selfish interests and must be rejected by voters at all costs.

On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, President Ruto met Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu East, Independent) Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o (Lang’ata), Paul Abuor (Rongo), John Owino (Awendo) and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda.

Ruto met with the legislators alongside Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as a follow-up to his recent tour of the Nyanza region. The leaders explored a mechanism of working together to address national and county issues.

Many political pundits opined that President Ruto is wooing ODM legislators to his side despite calls by Azimio party leader, Raila Odinga to the Kenya Kwanza government to resign while declaring that he does not recognise Ruto as president.

At the Azimio Parliament Group, leaders from constituent parties also called on their members to respect the coalition positions and avoid Kenya Kwanza affairs, coming after Jalang'o was kicked out of the Azimio PG meeting attended by top ODM, DAP-Kenya, Jubilee, Wiper and NARC Kenya bosses. 

"Minutes after I walked in, one of his (Raila) close security asked me to walk out, and that is what I did. I feel bad because I love baba and I am a member of ODM. I feel bad that I cannot be there since Raila is in there," he said afterwards.

Despite calls by some leaders in the party for disciplinary action, the leader of the Minority in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi asked the members not to berate their colleagues, adding that they were free to make their own decisions.

"Dewhipping any leader is not our agenda. We are not in the mood of punishing anyone. It is in order to take stock of the gains we have made and the possible losses we might have incurred since we went for the long recess,” he noted.

“We have made it very clear that we want every Azimio MP to attend, of course, there might be cases that are beyond our control. We can’t assume that all those not attending are rebelling."

President William Ruto meets Nyanza leaders at State House on February 7, 2023. /PCS