Jubilee dismisses Raila Odinga’s letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta Saturday, June 21st 2014 The ruling Jubilee coalition has dismissed CORD leader Raila Odinga’s letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta, and termed it diversionary. National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale and his Senate counterpart Kindiki Kithure, in a joint statement dispatched from State House, said Mr Raila was driven by a desire to control the countrys political agenda rather then promote national unity. “Let us state at the outset that the clamour for ‘dialogue’ by CORD and its handmaidens in civil society has nothing to do with Kenya, or Kenyans. It has nothing to do with national unity, devolution, security, corruption or the IEBC. It has everything to do with Raila Odinga, and the fact that he holds no elective office, he wants to use the clamour to steer the country’s political agenda,” read the statement in part. But in a quick rejoinder, the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) warned Mr Duale against continued unprovoked attacks against Raila. CORD Chief Whip and Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo criticised Duale at a public rally in Kakamega, and accused the lawmaker perennial mudsliging. “We are sending a warning to Duale. Let him not try to talk ill of Raila again. Raila is not Duale’s peer and we are saying all CORD principals, including Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula, must be respected,” said Mr Midiwo at a CORD rally in Muliro Gardens yesterday. Midowo accused Duale of misusing the Parliamentary privileges to improperly sully CORD’s reputation. He singled out Duales recent association of the Mpeketoni killings with the CORD leader and said these statements were malicious and misguided. Raila had written to President Kenyatta, assuring him that he was not interested in grabbing power, and offered his support on war against terror with an emphasis on the need for talks to address national challenges. The former PM also pointed out that he had no grudge and had accepted the results of the 2013 General Election. Raila cited five critical issues that needed to be addressed in a national dialogue conference. These included national security, national unity, devolution, corruption and the electoral process. However, Prof Kindiki and Duale said all issues Raila wants to dialogue over have been well addressed by constitutional bodies and in the legislature where CORD is well represented. “This discourse is not just a dialogue, it is a deep and comprehensive national conversation involving multiple stakeholders and managing the interests of the full spectrum of our national family. That Raila is not democratically mandated to participate in any of these conversations does not mean they are not structured. Indeed, it is quite arrogant and ‘unstatesmanly’ of Raila to imply that anything taking place without his participation or blessing is illegitimate,” the statement further read. They said as things stand, the Jubilee alliance was charged with the mandate to govern, while CORD was charged with the duty of opposition.
Posted on: Sun, 22 Jun 2014 07:39:54 +0000