City mayor attacks PM Raila critics on overseas trips

Monday, 30 May 2011 00:03 BY RAMADHAN RAJAB

Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa has defended Prime Minister Raila Odinga against attacks that he had spent a lot of money in foreign trips. Speaking after a Sunday service at Nairobi’s Central Salvation Army church, Aladwa said the attacks by a section of MPs were a sign of disrespect for the premier.
He said he was perturbed by current baseless attacks on his party leader Raila by an ODM splinter group together with their PNU counterparts. “It started with claims that the PM had deserted youths arrested during post election violence, then the Mau eviction and many other petty things. “Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny's claim that the PM misused public money in foreign trips was alarming and petty. The fact is that the trips were not in vain. He represented Kenya in high profile meetings, for bilateral talks as well as to woo investors,” Aladwa added.
He said the PM was an equal partner with President Kibaki and  should be accorded the same status and presidential privileges. “I want those disenchanted lot of ODM and others hauling all sorts of accusations to our party leaders to know that the PM is a co-principal with Kibaki in the grand coalition government and whenever he travels abroad he is treated as such and deserves decent accommodation just like the president,” the mayor said.
He also accused splinter group of being behind confusion in ODM with an aim of weakening the party. “The same politicians are trying to manufacture a rift between Raila and his deputy Musalia Mudavadi by citing results of Ikolomani by-election," he said.