Raila tells off Ngilu over date of polls

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Water Minister Charity Ngilu. Photo/FILE 

By KITAVI MUTUA kitavimutua@gmail.com
Posted  Saturday, March 24  2012 at  22:30

Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday took issue with Water minister Charity Ngilu over her views on the election date.

The PM dismissed Mrs Ngilu’s reason for opposing a December date as “untenable and lacking in merit”, saying she had misread the public mood on the matter.

Last week, in an apparent reference to Mr Odinga’s opposition to the March 4 elections, Mrs Ngilu said those uncomfortable with the IEBC’s date should go to court instead of complaining in public meetings.

The minister had told Mr Odinga she wanted the General Election in March to complete several water projects.

Mr Odinga told her off, saying she will have been in charge at Maji House for five years in December, and three more months would not make any difference.

Mr Odinga was speaking at Kaningo in Mwingi North constituency during a memorial service for former MP Philip Manandu.

Before the rare public reprimand, the PM asked the crowd to show by raising their hands their preferred date between March and December. The majority favoured a December date.

Turning to Mrs Ngilu, he said: “You are alone in pushing for March elections because even people in your home region disagree with you.”