Raila defends Orengo and Nyong'o, says ODM is not in coalition with Ruto

ODM leader Raila Odinga has moved to quell the wrangles among his foot soldiers over the co-operation between his party and President William Ruto’s UDA party.

Yesterday, the ODM leader defended his long-term allies Siaya Governor James Orengo and his Kisumu counterpart Anyang Nyong'o, who have launched criticisms against President Ruto's regime.

Orengo, has been under fire from a section of ODM leaders who have accused him of going against the party's wishes by speaking against the broad-based government. A section of professionals from Nyanza have even threatened to sponsor his impeachment.

Odinga who spoke during the burial of a Preskila Koyo, the wife of former Luo Council of Elders Chairman Koyo Opieno at Kakwa Juok Village in Karachuonyo Constituency, clarified that ODM is not in a coalition with the Kenya Kwanza Government.

He claimed that the critics have not committed any offense by speaking against their agreement.

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“The position of ODM needs to be understood very well in this arrangement. Orengo was not wrong for the utterances he made, Nyong’o was equally right over his comments,” said Odinga.

He said nobody should demonize the two leaders over their utterances.

The veteran politician said such comments complement the democratic space in the country.

“ODM is not in a coalition with the Kenya Kwanza Government. I want all Kenyans to understand that what we signed with President Ruto is an MoU, not a coalition pact,” said Odinga.

He compared the MoU to that of the United States of America, in which the former President appointed ministers from the Republican party even though he was a democrat.

“Even President Trump has ministers who are democrats, yet he is a republican. That is a similar arrangement we have,” he added.

He explained that the MoU does not bar ODM from performing its duties as an opposition party.

Odinga also stressed that the MoU does not interfere with any arm of government from performing its constitutional roles.

“We have the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary, whose roles are cut out in the Constitution. The MoU we have with President Ruto is not an impediment to any arm of the government in exercising its roles,” said Odinga.

He said Orengo and Nyong’o were right to express their opinions on how they perceive the government to be working.

While party insiders believe the few voices of dissent are a strategic move by the party’s leadership to keep the party afoot inside the government and a foot outside and in opposition, fears are rife that the development is threatening to tear the party.

Recent developments in the last couple of weeks, as well as the reemergence of sibling rivalries within the party, have forced the party leadership to assure members that all his well.

Orengo, who has come under heavy criticism from some party members, maintains that the party should be wary about praising the Kenya Kwanza government, arguing that the country could be headed to the dogs if leaders fail to keep the government in check.

Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o also complained that the National Government was impeding the implementation of devolution.

Nyong’o accused President Ruto’s government of hindering devolution by denying it all the funds meant for road construction.

He argued that the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) should not exist. He argued that the roads and the funds used for constructing those roads should be given to the county government.

The matter elicited a serious debate in the entire Nyanza region, where several ODM members, including elected leaders, criticised the leaders for allegedly intending to scuttle the collaboration between ODM and the Kenya Kwanza Government.

Some of them opined that Orengo should be impeached for making the remarks.

Yesterday, however, Raila said ODM is a democratic party and promotes debates.

Raila's comments are a stark contrast to how the party has handled other leaders who have been accused of going against the party's stand. In the past, the party summoned perceived rebels for disciplinary hearings.

In his speech, however, Raila also waded into how the Kenya Kwanza government was implementing aspects of devolution.

He said there were some functions which ought to have been devolved to county governments but the National Government still clings on to them. Such functions include those played by KeRRA and KURA.

He said KeRRA and KURA should be disbanded and their functions and funds devolved to the counties.

“The National Government is interfering with the implementation of devolution in this country. That is why devolution is not working properly. For example, why do we have KeRRA and KURA, and why does the national government pay community health volunteers?” asked Odinga.

He told MPs to work on legislation for disbanding the NG-CDF so that the funds are devolved to the counties.

“There is no compromise about this. Let MPs make legislation and disband the NGCF so that the funds can be taken to the counties,” he added.

Odinga was accompanied by Interior PS Raymond Omollo and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, who called on residents to support the broad-based government.   

“Let us demonstrate peace and support our leaders,” said Dr Omollo.

Wanga said the broad-based government is going to transform the lives of residents.

“Let us support the broad-based government because we are already benefiting from a lot of projects from the national government,” said Wanga.