Jubilee won’t last, claims Cord

Former Prime Minister and CORD leader Raila Odinga acknowledges his supporters as he arrived at Rose Huhando grounds in Homa-Bay town to attend the homecoming party of Homa-Bay Town MP Peter Opondo Kaluma in Homa-Bay August 10, 2013. Photo/JACOB OWITI 

By MAURICE KALUOCH   newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, August 10  2013 at  20:01

Cord leaders Saturday sensationally claimed that the Jubilee administration would not last more than two years due to what they described as its inability to govern.

They claimed that a series of misfortunes facing the government, among them the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport fire tragedy, incidents of insecurity, and failure to pay civil servants and teachers in good time, depicted a leadership on the brink of collapsing.

The over 30 lawmakers, including three senators, who gathered at a sports ground in Homa Bay, said the trials in The Hague would not allow President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto to take charge of the country’s affairs.

Senators James Orengo (Siaya), Johnstone Muthama (Machakos) and Otieno Kajwang (Homa Bay), who led the onslaught against the Jubilee administration, vowed that they would not rest until former Prime Minister Raila Odinga takes oath of office as the President.

Senators Kajwang’ and Orengo wondered who would be in charge of the country during the period the President and his deputy will be in The Hague facing trial.

“If for the next 12 months Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto will be in the Hague, who will be in charge of this country? Kenyans may be forced to put Raila on the throne because the presidency is not a personal property of the current occupants,” said Mr Kajwang’.

Mr Orengo said Kenyans must not be made to wait until 2017 because they have the sovereign power to decide who their leader should be.

The Siaya senator vowed that Cord would use both constitutional and legal means to have Mr Odinga installed in State House.

“This time round, Raila will not be made to fight hard by bringing the Constitution, which was his baby, and others reap,” he said.

Mr Muthama claimed that Cord garnered 7.5 million votes during the March 4 polls and that 2.2 million votes were given to Jubilee.

He said Cord won in six and half provinces while Jubilee only had one and half provinces.

He faulted the Jubilee government for harassing them whenever they speak on the ills currently bedevilling the country.

“Is it a crime if I as Muthama challenge the government on the expenditure of Sh2.5 billion for Jubilee celebrations or Sh700m to establish an office for a retired President?” he posed.

Funyula MP Paul Otuoma warned that a repeat of 2007 and 2013 would not be allowed since Cord had put in place an anti-rigging mechanism that would ensure that only one who wins the election is sworn in as the President.

“If anybody thinks that he will always rig elections and get away with it, this time round I will be personally in charge,” he said.

The legislators spoke during a home coming party for Homa Bay Town MP Peter Opondo Kaluma, where the guest of honour—Mr Odinga— reiterated that Cord was committed to ensuring the success of devolution.

He accused the government of attempting to sabotage devolution by creating unnecessary roadblocks, among them claims that county governments have no capacity to handle devolved functions.

He urged Kenyans to prepare for a referendum that would increase revenue allocations for county governments from the current 15 per cent to 40 per cent of the national revenue.