Amid heightened war of words in the country which has overly been linked to the renewed fight against graft, former Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim has slammed the opposition party, ODM for naivety.
According to Maalim, members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have been misled to think that the recent bromance between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga will lead to an automatic transfer of power to the former Prime Minister.
“Every time I watch juvenile excitement on the part of ODM leaders that the Presidency would be passed on to Raila you can’t help but laugh at their naivety,” Maalim wrote on Twitter.
The Wiper Democratic Movement party member further argues that the President might not necessarily be fighting his deputy William Ruto.
He opined that the President is fighting for himself and none of the two matter for now.
In support of his view, Maaalim states that leaders, especially the opposition should learn from Kenya’s political history.
Maalim has in the recent past differed with Raila, especially on his January 2018 swearing in as president of the people.
”… I would like to uphold the law. I have not been part of any process that is arranging for the swearing in of Raila Odinga. I will hesitate to endorse any swearing in because that is a recipe for chaos,” Maalim said last year.
The former Garissa Town legislator said that Odinga should have instead pushed for electoral reform agenda, which was NASA’s initial plan.
The former Deputy Speaker’s sentiments on Thursday elicited reactions with many affirming that the President is after leaving a legacy and not even the two leaders can stop that.
@alfomcengetich said, “Just tell them Mweshimiwa, they are celebrating not knowing that Raila is being played.”
Others felt, Raila knows too well that power can’t be handed over to him easily.
“Raila knows too well that the presidency cannot be easily handed to him. He has also learnt that voting does not count in this country. For him, if Uhuru guarantees a free and fair electoral system or allows him to rig the system in his favor…..Then he stands a chance. The excitement on the ODM side may be because they believe the system has been neutralized, but I bet Raila is not naive,” @iamjimalo wrote.
Some felt the President was wrong in his recent remarks assumed to target the DP.
Elias Omondi wrote, “And what does he intend to achieve after fighting for himself? A legacy? What’s informed the sudden interest in pursuing corruption related cases touching on DP’s side of the coalition when we know all sides are equally to blame for corruption in govt? Why is he embarrassing DP?”
Uhuru is not Fighting for Raila or against Ruto. Uhuru is fighting for himself. Every time I watch juvenile excitement on the part of ODM leaders that the Presidency would be passed on to Raila you can't help but laugh at their naivety. When will we learn from history?. Watch!!!
— Farah Maalim EGH (@FarahMaalimM) March 28, 2019
The comments comes two days after President Uhuru Kenyatta paid DP Ruto a random visit at his Annex office in Harambee House, Nairobi.
Many have interpreted the visit as one aimed at cooling the DP over what many have interpreted as ‘Cold War’ between the two ‘buddies’.
DP Ruto has been under attack after his comments that the Sh21 billion dams scandal was a flat lie.
A section of Members of Parliament from the Jubilee Party led by Ngunjiri Wambugu (Nyeri Town) are now calling for the ouster of the Deputy President.
Read:‘I Will Not Be Part Of Raila’s Swearing In,’ Wiper Party’s Farah Maalim Says
According to the MPs, who identify themselves as #TeamKenya, the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga has exposed the real theft of public funds.
Siaya Senator James Orengo recently announced that he is willing to sponsor an impeachment motion against Deputy President William Ruto.
On his part, Parliament majority leader Aden Duale has faulted Senate minority leader Orengo’s plan , terming it as an idea dead on arrival.
The Garissa township Mp says that Senator Orengo, who is a senior lawyer is either ignorant or is on a mission to mislead the public.
“The process cannot start in the Senate where he sits! Under Article 145 of the Constitution as read together with Art.150, the process can only originate in the National Assembly, where he does not sit!” Duale said in a recent interview.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@kahawatungu.com or WhatsApp +254707482874. You can also find us on Telegram through www.t.me/kahawatungu
Email your news TIPS to Editor@kahawatungu.com or WhatsApp +254707482874