By Boniface Ongeri
Prime Minister Raila Odinga ended his three-day tour of North Eastern region with plea to ODM delegates to remain united ahead of the partyâs presidential nomination.
The PM succumbed to pressure from residents and leaders and elevated Hadado division to a district.
The tour, however, ended in acrimony after Minister for Northern Kenya Mohammed Elmi and former Wajir West MP Mohammed Khalif engaged in a scuffle that nearly degenerated into blows in front of the PM and ODM delegates in Wajir town.
Raila said unity of the party was paramount despite "difference of opinion on the mode of nominating presidential candidate". Addressing ODM delegates at a hotel in Wajir town yesterday, the PM took a swipe at G7 alliance terming the outfit tribal.
Wajir West woes
" ODM, unlike the so-called Gema and Kamatusa alliances, is for unity of all Kenyans. The party has strong policies that would benefit everyone," he said.
The PM received a memorandum by a section of Wajir West constituents who were lobbying for the appointment of Mr Ibrahim Rashid Ahmed as a member of the East Africa Legislative Assembly (Eala) whose nomination process has just began.
In the memorandum, residents claimed the PM often by-passed Wajir West in appointments despite the constituency supporting him.
"It is only Wajir West that has never had anyone appointed or nominated to political and government positions," he said. During the meeting, Khalif bitterly accused Elmi of blocking him and his delegates from accessing the PM to present their memorandum.
Deputy speaker Farah Maalim had to intervene to cool the two. Khalif was finally allowed to see off the PM together with his delegation.
