Sunday, March 6, 2011

Balala: My loyalty is to the people

Secrets of why Tourism minister Najib Balala has fallen out with Prime Minister and Orange party leader Raila Odinga have finally come to the fore. In a candid interview with OSCAR OBONYO, Balala gives an account of broken promises:STANDARD ON SUNDAY: Let us begin with the expulsion of Isaac Ruto and Aden Duale from the party. What do you think informed the decision?
BALALA: We are utterly shocked by the developments. Instead of ODM appreciating why some of these issues are being raised, its leadership is hell bent on cracking the whip. This is the wrong thing for ODM to do, especially if it is keen on expanding its membership.
Q. Why now and why only Ruto and Duale?
A. This is because Ruto is a member of the crucial House Business Committee and Duale, a member of the Ababu (Namwamba, Legal Affairs) committee. But what has happened is selective "justice". They are simply testing the waters, and if they get their way they will next punish even Balala and (William) Ruto.
Q. What do you think of the move?
A. It is purely dictatorial. At a time when there is a notion that ODM is one-man party affair, this is the wrong moment to be heavy handed on members.
Q. Is the move in line with the party’s constitutional requirement?
A. An effort towards that might have been made, but it has increasingly become difficult to attend party meetings to deliberate on such matters because one encounters many busy bodies, heckling at elected leaders. The original structures of the party were messed up at Bomas (NDC for ODM elections) just to satisfy a few people leading to a bloated office.
Q. As a senior founder member, how did you miss out on the slots?
A. Ask the PM. From what I have gathered, I was punished for being vocal in challenging some of his ideologies.
Q. Why have you become so critical of the PM, almost to a personal level?
A. He is simply difficult to comprehend. Having created an additional slot of deputy party leader specifically for Rift Valley, it was only natural that Coast Province or any other region gets the post of chairmanship. I talked to Raila about this and he assured me of the position. I then proceeded to Europe for a trip only to return a few days to the NDC at Bomas to find things had totally changed.
Q. Isn’t there a better way of expressing displeasure other than the ODM MPs openly siding with the rival PNU within and outside Parliament?
A. I know it is unfortunate that we have had to move to the rival side and I agree with you, we should not have done so. But this is purely an act of frustration.
Q. Why frustration? Are there no alternative avenues for recourse?
A. You have totally no idea how the party is run. ODM has never been an institution, because if it were with clear structures then we would have found an avenue of addressing some of these issues from within.
Q. What is the reading of the latest developments by ODM rebels?
A. We are not rebels and it is unacceptable for one to brand us as such or bhang smokers. The ODM leadership has simply failed to address certain issues and is now busy fire fighting.
Q. Is talk of a vote of no confidence in the PM still on card?
A. It is too early to divulge details. Nonetheless, ODM’s hard stance is not helping the situation. Why create unnecessary animosity? Let us appreciate our divergent views and build a united giant party.
Q. Are you still loyal to the party?
A: I am loyal to the agenda we have promised the people. My loyalty remains to the people and the promises we made to them and not to an individual or party.
Q. What is your next move?
A. Watch my steps. This time around we shall definitely get our own vehicle.
Q. Is it finally over between you and the Premier or is there hope that you may make up?
A. As they say, there are no permanent enemies in politics and only interests remain permanent. If the leadership style of ODM finally changes – you never know – we may still work together.

No comments:

Post a Comment