Sunday, January 23, 2011

Politics take centre stage at Jaramogi's memorial

Written By:Simon Achola/Judith Akolo,    Posted: Sat, Jan 22, 2011

President Kibaki is welcomed in Eldoret by Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and MP william Ruto
A memorial service to mark the 17th anniversary since the death of Kenya's first Vice-President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga turned into a platform for answering Rift Valley members of parliament who hosted President Mwai Kibaki on Friday.
Speaking at the Prime Minister Raila Odinga's  Bondo home, ODM diehards launched  a scathing attack on the new alliance which they said was doomed to fail.
The ODM kingpins read mischief in the whole alliance and hosting of President Mwai Kibaki in Eldoret by MPs allied to Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta.
They now say the whole affair lacks sincerity since those displaced from Rift Valley are set to be resettled elsewhere through funds allocated by the same government instead of resettling them in their original homes.
And Prime Minister Raila Odinga again hit out at the MPs and exuded confidence that the current storm within the ODM party will soon die out.
In an apparent reference to the rebels led by Ruto, the PM said  the country is not led by age but by sound  ideologies that can propel it to the next level.
He defended his development track record as envisioned in the party's manifesto. He challenged leaders fronting for young leaders to declare what they stand for.
His deputy Musalia Mudavdadi warned those hatching  political schemes to kill ODM that they will not succeed. 
He called on Kenyans to distance themselves from such  leaders bent on dividing them along tribal lines.
The Eldoret peace rally which continues to draw mixed reactions was dominated by succession politics with more than 60 MPs pushing the President to name his successor with the names of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto being fronted.
Others who spoke at the memorial include National Heritage Minister William Ole Ntimama who warned the government against using force to resettle internally displaced people in Mau Narok since the piece of land earmarked for this is still in dispute.
Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang' said that political careers cannot be built on hatred and that ODM members from Nyanza had no apologies to make for those in the party who have been named by International Criminal Court Prosecutor Louis Moreno Ocampo and ought to carry their own cross.
Lands Minister James Orengo urged the President and the Prime Minister to rise above political mischief and instead work towards realizing the goals envisaged in the new constitution and Agenda 4 reforms.
While Magerer Lang'at who is the only Rift Valley MP still strongly in ODM said the 2012 election will not be hinged on tribes but on integrity and the reform track record.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga died on January 21, 1994, at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu at 83.
He was one of the pioneer freedom fighters in Kenya together with the founding President Jomo Kenyatta, Paul Ngei, Kung'u Karumba, Bildad Kaggia and Fred Kubai.

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