Raila vows his party will fight for Namwamba

By Steve MkawaleThe wrangles in ODM have intensified with Prime Minister Raila Odinga daring disgruntled members to quit the party.
Raila yesterday said the party would fight for Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba to remain the chairman of the Parliament’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.
"If they want to leave ODM let them leave now. Either they are with us or against us," said the PM.
He warned that the party may withdraw from all parliamentary committees should ‘anti-reformists’ insist on removing Namwamba. "We have seen some people who campaigned against the constitution trying to take control of the parliamentary committees in a bid to frustrate its implementation," said the PM who was campaigning for Mr Ibrahim Ahmed alias "Johnny" the party’s candidate for the May 23 Kamukunji parliamentary by election.
Raila said Namwamba would remain the chairman of the committee. "ODM will not allow anti-reformists to frustrate the implementation of the Constitution the same way they campaigned and voted against it," said the party leader.
Operations of the crucial committee have been thrown into disarray after ODM announce withdrawal of its membership.
Public appointments
Early this month, party secretary-general Prof Anyang Nyong’o accompanied by over 10 MPs announced the move at Parliament Buildings, saying it was the only way to allow the crisis dogging the committee to be resolved politically.
A majority of the committee’s members, including dissenting ODM MPs, had rebelled against Namwamba and sought a meeting to replace him.
But keen not to lose the control of the key committee that vets major public appointments, ODM announced the withdrawal of renegades Isaac Ruto and Sophia Abdi for siding with PNU members, although this was not rubberstamped by Parliament.
Efforts by the Liaison Committee whose chairperson is Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim to resolve the dispute in Justice and Legal Affairs team have also failed. Mr Farah’s committee is supposed to guide and coordinate the operations, policies and mandates of all committees.
The Committee handles constitutional affairs, the administration of law and justice, public prosecutions, elections, ethics, integrity and anti-corruption and human rights.
It is key in implementation of the new Constitution.
Last week, PNU and ODM rebel MPs passed vote of no confidence in Namwamba as chairman, forcing ODM to threaten to withdraw its members from the committee in protest.
The legislators also castigated remarks made recently by a section of PNU MPs that the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and ODM party were anti-reformists.
They clarified the PM has been at the forefront in the fight to liberate the country.
Disrespect to president
"Those who are against the PM are watermelons who have been against reforms and no Kenyans would believe them. PM has clean record on reforming the country," Olweny said.
They told the PNU MPs to give the PM the respect he deserves as leader of the ODM party, saying the party has not shown any disrespect to President Mwai Kibaki.
"They should have good manners. We had never had any problem with the president," Orengo said. Yesterday Raila said ODM was the only political party that has adhered to the requirements of the new Constitution.
"ODM is the only political party in Kenya that meets all the requirements in the new Constitution," said the PM.
He criticised his colleagues in PNU for advocating for tribal politics.
"There are some politicians going around the country talking of KKK alliance. That will fail because Kenyans want a united country," he said.
The PM said the Government has prepared a development master plan for Kamukunji constituency, which he said included upgrading of roads, drainage system and other infrastructure.
"That plan will cost Sh30 billion and will completely change the face of Eastleigh, an economic hub of Kamukunji," he said.
Roads Minister Franklin Bett dismissed Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka for announcing that the Government had set aside Sh3.5 billion for rehabilitation of roads in the constituency.
"I am the Minister for Roads and I now announce that we have a plan of Sh5 billion and not 3.5 billion as earlier announced," said Bett.
Raila’s campaign begun at Machakos Country Bus Station, went to Shauri Moyo before ending at First Avenue in Eastleigh.
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet ministers Bett, Orengo and Nyong’o accompanied him alongside MPs Margaret Wanjiru, Rachel Shebesh, Elizabeth Ongoro and Ayiecho Olweny among others.