ODM Senators skip PG as Raila defends pact with Ruto
Meeting was called ahead of parliament resuming sittings tomorrow after a one month recess
by GEOFFREY MOSOKU
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ODM Leader Raila Odinga with MPs during the PG meeting. HANDOUT
Several ODM Senators skipped a Parliamentary Group (PG)
meeting chaired by party leader Raila Odinga at Argyle Grand Hotel along Mombasa
Road on Monday morning.
The Senators kept off in what appears to be a silent protest
against the manner in which the meeting was convened by “apparently sidelining
them.”
Today’s meeting was communicated in the party WhatsApp
group, where National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed posted the invite
to the PG.
Only two out of 20 ODM Senators showed up: Taita Taveta’s
Johnes Mwaruma and nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletien.
The Senators who sent apologies are said to have been irked
by the manner in which the meeting was convened, according to conversations in
their group.
Nairobi Senator and Party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna
appeared to hint at the silent protest when he delivered an apology for six of
his colleagues, alluding to an uncoordinated invite.
“Whip @Millie Mabona; Senator Madzayo is carrying my
apologies together with Senators Beth Syengo, Faki, Kajwang, Crystal, Eddy
Oketch, Ledama, Beatrice Oyomo, Issa Boy, and Okongo Mogeni. Kindly record them
as well. We will work on communicating better between the two houses,” Sifuna
wrote.
On Sunday evening, Junet sought to clarify his invitation,
which was only extended to his National Assembly colleagues, saying Senators
were at liberty to attend if they so wished.
“Hon members, to clarify the PG issue: I had to address in
the memo members of the National Assembly only because it’s the NA assembly
facilitating the PG. They are the ones who booked the hotel, and members will
also be facilitated, but there is no harm in our brothers from the Senate
attending,” Junet had informed the Senators who were inquiring about their
participation.
ODM had invited National Treasury CS John Mbadi to take the
party members through a presentation on the current state of the economy.
University of Nairobi Political Science and Public Administration
Department Chairman Dr. Oscar Otele made a presentation on party identity,
position, and compliance in a collaborative political environment.
ODM has been grappling with internal divisions following
Raila’s decision to join the government of President Ruto under the Broad-Based
arrangement a year ago.
Raila sought to downplay concerns of those who believe the
party has already made a resolution to back Ruto’s re-election, warning that
ODM follows procedures in such decisions.
“We have not passed any resolutions of the party to say how
we are going to go to the elections of 2027. So, wherever you are, don’t commit
the party to some things that have not been discussed. Let’s discuss first. We
are ODM. Who has told you that ODM will not have a candidate in 2027? A
decision will be made when the time comes,” Raila said.
The ODM boss said that as a party, its core agenda of coming
together has been achieved as “we have a stable and peaceful country and beat
back the chaos and created an environment in which we can agree to disagree
without staring at collapse.”
“As I have said before, whatever the differences and
misgivings we have as parties or leaders, we must have a country first. Only
then can we set about discussing how to perfect the nation’s imperfections and
even who is to lead the nation,” he said.
The ODM chief asked his troops not to cower in their
alliance with UDA, saying just like his alliance with Kanu — which laid the
foundation for the 2010 Constitution — his working with Ruto will deliver more
fruits for the nation.
“So, my appeal to you as you embark on some of the
legislative agenda coming up is that you should NEVER feel powerless, or feel
like GIVING UP because populists around you are seeking popularity at the
expense of leadership.”
He added:
“There is a time to lead and a time to acknowledge cheers.
Popularity surges and wanes. Cheering masses come, change, and go. If you act
out of conviction, if you put people at the heart of your manoeuvres, if you
ensure that our actions are in line with our ideals as a party and our
aspirations as a country, the luck of history will be on our side.”
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