Fired ministers dare Raila to 2012 battle

By Steve Mkawale

Rebel ODM MPs have lashed out at Prime Minister Raila Odinga over the sacking of their colleagues from the Cabinet and warned him of a tough political battle come 2012.

At least 15 MPs, mostly from the Rift Valley and North Eastern provinces, told the PM to prepare for "battle royale" in the 2012 General Election.

"My message to him (Raila) is that we meet at the ballot box," said a defiant Eldoret North MP William Ruto who was on Wednesday sacked from the Cabinet.

Addressing a press conference at Parliament Buildings on Thursday, Ruto said he had parted ways with Raila due to irreconcilable differences.

"When we formed ODM, it was on the principles of democracy, and we were sure that it was a party that would reward merit and performance. Little did we know that ODM will be a party of dictators and tyrants who reward mediocrity and hero worshippers," said Ruto.

He maintained that his sacking and that of three other MPs allied to him had nothing to do with performance.

"This is the old style of politics of hero worship and tyranny where merit and performance are ignored at the expense mediocrity and sycophancy," said Ruto.

He explained that issues that led to the frosty relationship between him and the PM were clear and in the public domain.

Ruto said he and his colleagues were ready to face by-elections and it was only a matter of time before they quit ODM to form another party.

"I am technically in ODM and nobody should give us marching orders because we formed this party. We will leave when the time is right," the Eldoret North MP said.

Ruto has been associated with the United Democratic Movement and also the G7 alliance.

Mogotio MP Helen Sambili of UDM — a political party that was in a working relationship with ODM — was also relieved her duties as the Minister for East Africa Co-operation.

On Thursday, Sambili said she had no regrets adding that her sacking had nothing to do with performance.

Severed links

"It is all political. I have no regrets or apologies to make. This means UDM has severed links with ODM," she said.

Sambili said she had avoided commenting on political issues surrounding the row in ODM because of her position in Cabinet.

She invited Ruto and other ODM rebel MPs to join UDM. "I welcome all of you to join UDM. I am the only elected representative of the party and nothing should stop you from joining," she said.

Dujis MP Aden Duale and his Mandera West counterpart Mohamed Muhamud Ali who were dropped as assistant ministers said ODM had lost its popularity on North Eastern due to "dictatorial tendencies" of its leadership.

"People of Nyanza should reject leaders who are dictators, and who are against opposition in theirpolitical parties," he said.

"ODM has lost popularity in Upper Eastern. We cannot allow to be intimidated by an individual not to air our views about the leadership of the party," Muhamud said adding that it "was on the road to self-destruction."

"We formed ODM because of the same issues that have made us leave the party now and even Raila criticised President Kibaki at that time because of similar issues," said the MP.

Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni who also addressed the Press conference said the culture of rewarding sycophants with ministerial posts was not good for the country.

Others present at the conference included MPs Charles Keter, Benjamin Langat, Peris Simam, Joshua Kutuny, Linah Kilimo and Moses Lesoonnet.