CORD rebel MPs snub President Uhuru Kenyatta's Hague trip

A majority of Opposition rebels associated with Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung'aro and with close ties to Jubilee did not travel with President Uhuru Kenyatta to The Hague last week.

This has sparked debate on why the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) MPs skipped the crucial trip.

The leaders denied that they failed to raise the cost of visa, travel and hotel accommodation in the European city and gave various reasons, ranging from "personal pressing issues" to religious reasons and alleged prior arrangements.

"Everyone who went to The Hague did so as an individual and paid from their own pockets," Mung'aro told The Standard yesterday, adding that he took advantage of the trip to oversee personal business and visit relatives.

One rebel claimed yesterday that she secured the visa to the Netherlands but still did not travel.

OPENLY SPLIT

Most of the ODM rebel MPs are close to Deputy President William Ruto who was acting Head of State in President Uhuru Kenyatta's absence.

They have openly split from CORD leader Raila Odinga and declared allegiance to the President.

MPs Dan Kazungu (Malindi), Salim Mustafa Iddi (Kilifi South), Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi) and Abulswamad Shariff Nassir (Mvita) claimed they were not by the President's side as they either travelled abroad earlier or had pressing issues in their constituencies which stopped them from travelling.