Why Wetang’ula should resign as Ford Kenya party leader - Raila

Raila accused the current MPs of not standing firm to defend Kenyans.

In Summary
  • Raila said Wetang'ula as a neutral arbiter at the National Assembly should not belong to a political party.
  • “Wetang’ula should resign as Ford Kenya party boss. Before anybody becomes the speaker he/she should not be a leader of any party,” Odinga stated.
ODM Leader Raila Odinga addressing a gathering duiring the burial of former Bumula MP Lawrence Sifuna.
ODM Leader Raila Odinga addressing a gathering duiring the burial of former Bumula MP Lawrence Sifuna.
Image: ODM PARTY/X

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga now wants Speaker of the Nationatl Assembly Moses Wetang’ula to resign as the Ford Kenya party leader.

Raila said Wetang'ula as a neutral arbiter at the National Assembly should not belong to a political party.

“Wetang’ula should resign as Ford Kenya party boss. Before anybody becomes the speaker he/she should not be a leader of any party,” Odinga stated.

He spoke at the burial of former Bumula Member of Parliament Lawrence Sifuna in Bungoma on Saturday.

Furthermore, Raila accused the current Members of Parliament (MPs) of not standing firm to defend Kenyans.

“The MPs are the ones who come up with the laws to guide the Country but nowadays they are the ones passing the Finance bill that will hurt Kenyans,” he said, noting that MPs should be professional while presiding over their work.

He added:

“Wetang’ula is my longtime friend. I’m the One who requested him to exit KANU, therefore, he should not let Kenyans down  and instead work according to the law.”

In addition, Odinga disagreed with the government’s plan to sell Parastatals saying that during the campaigns, the President pledged to better the cost of living.

“Ruto promised to help Bungoma get a brand new mill at Nzoia Sugar Company. I am also waiting for the day it will be available so that I can come over to witness,” said former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya.

The ODM leader castigated Wetang’ula hailing former National Assembly Speaker Kennedy Marende as the best speaker.

“Out of the Speakers we have had in the parliament, Kennedy Marende was someone who stuck to the law and served this country very well,” he said.

In his reply, Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka said that the region must be happy because since independence it has produced three speakers.

The governor is the first deputy party leader of the Ford Kenya party.

Also present was DAP-K leader and former defence CS Eugene Wamalwa who applauded Bumula MP Jack Wamboka and Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga for standing firm in rejecting the Finance bill.

Leaders present accompanying Azimio leader included; governors James Orengo (Siaya), Kenneth Lusaka (Bungoma), George Natembeya ( Trans- Nzoia), Health and Sanitation CS Susan Nakhumicha, former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya, MPs John Makali (Kanduyi), John Waluke (Sirisia) and MCAs among others.

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