Raila: South Rift not sidelined

Raila: South Rift not sidelined

By Vitalis Kimutai and Kepher Otieno

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has once again come out to fend off claims that he sidelined the Kipsigis in Cabinet appointments.

Raila told the community that the decision on Cabinet portfolios had been decided and it was final.

"There have been persistent complaints that ODM favoured the North Rift in allocating ministerial posts. But we had to do a delicate balancing act after forming the Grand Coalition Government," Raila said.

He added: "With one ministerial post and two assistants, the South Rift is not badly off." Roads Minister Franklin Bett, Assistant ministers Beatrice Kones (Home Affairs) and Charles Keter (Energy) are the only ministers from the region. Leaders and residents in the region have often put the PM to task for allegedly sidelining them in top Government positions despite the overwhelming support they gave him in the 2007 General Election.

Raila said parochial tribal politics should not be allowed to take root in society.

"Tribal politics should be a thing of the past as modern society does not have space for tribalists," he said.

The PM was speaking at Kaporuso Primary School grounds in Bomet during the memorial service for former Roads Minister Kipkalya Kones. Kones died in a plane crash on June 10 last year.

During the accident in Narok, former Home Affairs Assistant Minister Lorna Laboso, pilot Christopher Schuner and Kones’ aide Kenneth Bett also died.

Keep spirit alive

At the memorial service yesterday, the Kipkalya Kones Foundation was launched to pay fees for bright, but needy students.

Mrs Kones, who is the local MP, urged her family to keep Kones’ spirit alive.

"Wherever he is, his spirit is with us. We have to keep his legacy going as one day, he will ask us what we did after he departed," she said.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga joins other leaders in paying tribute to the Founder of Church of Christ in Africa Archbishop Mathews Ajuoga at Kambare, Siaya District, on Saturday. [PHOTO: James Keyi/STANDARD]

Raila said he and Kones started as political adversaries, but later became close friends.

"My relationship with Kones started when we were political enemies, but we became friends after he fell out with former President Moi," Raila said.

The PM commended Bomet constituents for electing Kones’ widow to Parliament in last year’s by-election.

The PM praised Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s Budget on Thursday as balanced, saying it factored in devolution in the distribution of resources.

Cabinet Ministers James Orengo, Henry Kosgey and Paul Otuoma; Assistant ministers Peter Kenneth and Joseph Nkaissery and MPs Eugene Wamalwa, Rachel Shebesh, Maina Kamau, Muhamood Ali and Zakayo Cheruiyot attended the service.

Mr Orengo assured the residents that Mau Forest settlers would not be evicted.

"I want to set the record clear. As a human rights’ lawyer and Lands minister, people will not be kicked out of their farms until the law is followed," he said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister attended the burial service of Church of Christ in Africa founder Bishop Mathews Ajuoga at Kambere Secondary School grounds in Siaya District.

Call for unity

Senior inter-denominations moderator John Gatu Kisumu Church Council of Elders Chairman Bishop Ogonyo Ngede led the mourners in calling for unity, peace and reconciliation in the church.

Raila eulogised the bishop as one of the pioneer clergymen in the struggle to liberate African churches.

"He used the church to fight for religious liberation and preached love and unity throughout Africa," Raila said.

Kisumu Town West MP Olago Aluoch advised church leaders to solve their differences through the Synod and not the court.

Raila asked churches to follow the example of the Catholic Church, which elects bishops or Pope in peaceful. The premier said wrangling in Church had led to a proliferation of "meaningless churches".

 

 

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