By Job Weru and James Munyeki
Leaders from Central Kenya now want Prime Minister Raila Odinga to come out and defend himself against accusations leveled against him by Miguna Miguna.
The leaders observed that the PM’s former aide laid bare alleged corrupt operatives and vice in Raila’s office, and advised that the issues raised should be probed.
The leaders were reacting to accusations leveled against Raila in Miguna’s recently released book, Peeling Back the Mask; A Quest for Justice in Kenya.
The comments come at a time when a Raila lobby group, Friends of Raila, led by Deputy Patron and Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara trashed Miguna’s expose and said the Prime Minister would not react to the accusations.
Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri and MP Jeremiah Kioni said leaders allied to President Kibaki’s side of the Government were aware of the ills bedevilling the PM’s office, but lacked ways of countering them.
The Laikipia East MP continued: “The information is now in the public court and the ball has been thrown back to the Government to act.”
But Mpuri Aburi, a political activist and a close ally of Raila, said the publication is composed of blatant and unfounded lies, which should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve.
“After realising he was spreading falsehoods, Miguna decided to run out of the country to avoid facing justice,” said Aburi.
Meru Municipal Council Mayor John Mwalimu said it is unfair to pass judgement without proof, noting it took a bit too long for the book to be written.
Kieni MP Nemesyus Warugongo said nobody is above the law. “Some of the accusations leveled against the Prime Minister and his cronies are very serious and if it is true, necessary action must be taken,” he said.
