Former MP declines to meet Kalonzo

By Athman Amran

ODM-Kenya first vice-chairman Joe Khamisi has declined an invitation to meet Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.

The former Bahari MP confirmed the VP had telephoned him on Thursday for a meeting in Mombasa on Saturday.

"I do not want to be associated with ODM-Kenya anymore. I would not like to be seen sitting with Mr Kalonzo. I still remember when he accused me of being Agriculture minister William Ruto’s mole during a national delegates conference at Kasarani last year," Khamisi told The Standard on Thursday.

Sources said Khamisi is the third top official to be called by Kalonzo for a one-on-one meeting over fears 17 National Executive Committee (NEC) members wanted to quit the party.

This was after a NEC and Parliamentary Group meeting, which the party had called two weeks ago, was called off at the last minute over fears of an alleged internal rebellion.

‘Rebel’ members

First to be summoned by Kalonzo was the party’s National Organising Secretary Lucas Maitha followed by the Deputy Secretary-General Mohamed Abikar.

Sources told The Standard Kalonzo and Abikar met for two hours at the VP’s Jogoo House offices in Nairobi.

Deputy Chair (Rift Valley) Peris Tobiko, who is also alleged to be among the 17 ‘rebel’ NEC members, said she expected to be the next to be summoned by the VP.

"The VP is mad with me because I have been closer to Water Minister Charity Ngilu," said Tobiko.

ODM-Kenya Assistant Treasurer Jennifer Massis said the main problem within the party ranks is Kalonzo’s alleged neglect of those who helped him during the last General Election.

Job opportunities

"There is an in-house problem as far as party operations and allocation of job opportunities to those who sacrificed for the party are concerned," said Ms Massis.

She said it was not possible for one person to serve two parties — PNU and ODM-Kenya — at the same time.

"When the party joined the PNU coalition we have seen Kalonzo operate more in PNU than in his own party. Now members just want to know whether he is in PNU or ODM-Kenya," said Massis.

Sources within ODM-K told The Standard the internal wrangles have to do with difficulty for some of them to be awarded tenders by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

 

 

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