Wanjiru evades ODM defection talk

PM’s wife Ida Odinga and Assistant minister for Housing Margaret Wanjiru

By Allan Kisia and Lonah Kibet

Housing Assistant minister Margaret Wanjiru has remained tight-lipped over her future in ODM even with growing speculations about her moving to another party.

Wanjiru on Sunday  declined to comment on the matter and said she will issue a comprehensive statement in a week’s time.

“Right now, the issue of concern is who will become the Governor of Nairobi,” she stated.

Wanjiru, who is also the bishop of Jesus is Alive Ministries, said her followers with the support of others have the power to decide the person who will be the first Governor of Nairobi.

“We will decide who will become Governor of Nairobi,” she told hundreds of faithful during special service named Family Day Out held at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.

In attendance were Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s wife Ida and Nairobi Metropolitan assistant minister Elizabeth Ongoro

Ida did not talk politics when she was given the stage to address the congregation but chose to speak about the importance of having a family.

Remain in ODM

Journalists covering the event had been told Wanjiru would use the occasion to announce her move to another party.

But when asked after the service, Wanjiru only talked about women representation in elective offices.

When further asked if she invited Ida and Ongoro to the service, Wanjiru said she did not but noted that everybody was free to attend.

“They probably came here to make sure that I remain in ODM,” she joked.

Late last month, Raila  dismissed press reports that Wanjiru, the MP for Starehe, had defected to another party, saying as far as he knows the bishop was still a member of ODM.

He was speaking at the Nyayo National stadium when he addressed aspiring candidates for various seats on an ODM ticket in the forthcoming elections and later ODM delegates from Nairobi County.

A day later, ODM suffered a blow when URP became the latest political outfit to profit from the recent wave of defections from the Orange party.

Sotik MP Joyce Laboso left ODM for URP and  nominated MP Rachel Shebesh ditched Raila for Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.