An MP from Raila Odinga’s Nyanza base is celebrating. The first- term legislator has been telling whoever cares to listen how he’s sure of reelection next year. This after his fiercest competitor committed what he termed a lifetime political blunder during the recent visit of President Uhuru Kenyatta (pictured) to the region. The MP has hired bloggers to circulate a video clip of his competitor, a former MP, totally intoxicated. The ex-MP was among the local leaders who attended the President’s event but was clearly drunk. He could not walk by himself and was helped by his aides. Last week, the MP was heard telling his colleagues in Parliament that the conduct of his competitor has sealed his victory in next year’s polls.
***
Virtual parliamentary committee meetings seem to have come with many challenges for many lawmakers. Early this week, a Zoom meeting of a powerful House committee was interrupted for several minutes. Two legislators — a first-term male lawmaker and a nominated woman colleague who were engrossed in personal chats, posted on the group wall, exposing their intimate messages to everybody. That included journalists and a minister appearing before the panel. Shocked at the turn of events, the chairman ordered the administrator to abruptly end the meeting and set up another link. The two later apologised, saying they are ‘close friends'.
***
Calls by some close allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta to revamp the Jubilee Party seem to have sent some friends of Deputy President William Ruto into celebrations. Recently, two vocal MPs from the Tangatanga faction of the ruling party were heard telling their Kieleweke counterparts how the DP and his team have been the rock that anchors the party. They bragged that without the DP, Jubilee is a shell that cannot win even a ward seat, including in the President’s backyard. They vowed to ensure that Jubilee does not come back to cement their assertion the DP was the party’s foundation stone.
