Jared Nyataya | NATION Prime Minister Raila Odinga (right) with deputy PM Musalia Mudavadi at the burial of ex-policeman Alphonce Mulama at his home in Lugari Constituency on May 07, 2011.
By OUMA WANZALA owanzala@k.nationmedia.com
Posted Saturday, May 7 2011 at 22:00
Posted Saturday, May 7 2011 at 22:00
In Summary
- Prime Minister says his party is focused and won’t be drawn into polarising politics
Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Saturday told ODM critics to stay away from the party’s affairs and mind their business.
In a veiled attack on rivals in the coalition government and ODM rebels, Mr Odinga said his party was doing fine without the contribution of political parties he suggested were largely ethnic.
“We want national parties that propagate campaigns based on policy issues rather than the tribal alliances and ethnic undertones that have characterised the political scene lately,” he said.
He spoke during the burial of retired deputy commissioner of police Alphonce Mulama at Kongoni village in Lukuyani district.
Mr Mulama was Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi’s father-in-law.
The PM said ODM was focused and was not interested in tribal politics that could further polarise the nation.
“Tribalism will remain the most retrogressive practice that must be defeated if the country is to make any tangible progress,” he said.
At another function in Nandi, the PM was dragged into the controversy surrounding the removal of former director of the Eldoret’s Moi Referral Hospital Haroun Mengich.
But Mr Odinga said the director had not been sacked as claimed by Mosop MP David Koech.
The PM was addressing mourners during the burial of Michael Kiplimo Sang on his Cheborgei Farm in Mosop Constituency.
“Nobody has sacked Prof Mengich. I cannot sit and watch innocent Kenyans being victimised,’’ said Mr Odinga.
Mr Koech had said that Cabinet ministers were doing little to improve the welfare of Kenyans but had perfected the art of sacking professionals from certain communities.
In March this year board of directors of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital announced that it will start afresh the process of appointing the hospital’s director.
The announcement followed the decision by Medical Services minister Anyang’ Nyong’o to replace the long-serving director with his deputy Omar Aly on March 7, when his contract came to an end.
Prof Mengich was appointeddirector in March 1999 and has served for two terms of five years each with an extension contract of two years.
Lands minister James Orengo and ODM chief whip Jakoyo Midiwo who accompanied the PM, claimed that a section of politicians in the country were out to cripple the implementation of the new Constitution for selfish gains.
Mr Midiwo said ODM will not allow such people to paralyse the process and asked Kenyans and religious leaders to pray for the country.
He said the party will not allow Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto to take over the leadership of the parliamentary committee on legal affairs saying he opposed the Constitution during the referendum and cannot work for its implementation.
“We will not allow non-progressive forces to undermine the implementation of the new Constitution. The National Accord protects the government and therefore we will not be manipulated in the legal affairs committee,” Mr Midiwo said.
He called on President Mwai Kibaki and the Prime Minister to intervene and resolve the stalemate.
Posts
Jaluos, Jaluos, Jaluos you are definitely running scared. I am from Eastern province but want thank with all my heart William Ruto for saving Kenya by bringing down this monster of a man[Devil] called Raila Ojinga
ReplyDelete