Jubilee leaders are dragging the names of Opposition leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka into land-grab claims so as to deflect attention from the rot in their own camp, allies of the two leaders claimed yesterday.
They also expressed fury at Jubilee's claims that Raila and Kalonzo, who have been at the forefront of land-grabbing claim against Deputy President William Ruto and demand for Devolution minister Anne Waiguru to step aside over the National Youth Service (NYS) saga, were beneficiaries of irregular public land acquisition.
Reacting to the allegation by Jubilee leaders on Monday that Raila acquired a piece of land at Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology while Kalonzo allegedly benefited from 600-acres in Yatta that belonged to NYS, the Opposition team termed this a scheme to divert attention from the corruption rocking the Government.
On Monday four Jubilee MPs demanded that the National Land Commission (NLC) investigates how Raila and Kalonzo acquired the land parcels in question.
It is the claims by President Uhuru Kenyatta's The National Alliance (TNA) party MPs, including party chairman Johnson Sakaja, Ndung'u Githinji (Tetu), Dennis Waweru (Dagoretti South) and Samuel Gichigi (Kipipiri), that prompted 10 Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) MPs to allege the Jubilee government was out to tarnish the image of the opposition leaders.
Addressing a press conference at Parliament Buildings, the Opposition MPs led by Leader of Minority in the National Assembly Francis Nyenze and Deputy Minority Whip Chris Wamalwa, claimed that Kalonzo became a target of government side after he demanded a forensic audit on NYS financial operations.
In statement read by Wiper's Nominated Senator Judy Sijeny, the MPs claimed the Jubilee government was now cornered on the issues of corruption especially at NYS and was looking for scapegoats and a place to hide.
"It's therefore desperately looking for ways to ensure we do not talk about corruption in NYS where billions are being spent to militarise the youth. Jubilee does not want us to talk about Weston Hotel (linked to Ruto), which is built on a public land and where today the Government holds meetings and hosts delegation to take care of their own," Sijeny said.
The legislators argued the farm in question was sold to Kalonzo in the late 1990s by a Ms Janet Chirchir and Betracal Limited on a willing-buyer-willing-seller basis and all stamp duty paid.
"This matter is being raised to try and suppress the weighty matters of NYS scandal on procurement and recruitment. To cover up known corruption, Jubilee is trying to invent one where there is none. That's why they have suddenly discovered there is Yatta Farm, yet its ownership is as clear as daylight," the MPs added.
Kilome MP Regina Ndambuki said: "The name Kalonzo came up immediately after he issued a personal statement demanding full investigations into NYS corruption."
Separately, Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo scoffed at allegations that Raila grabbed land for Ramogi, saying this was a gimmick to cover up for corruption at NYS. "Did they have to wait for Waiguru scandal to know that Raila and Kalonzo have grabbed land?" he asked.
"I mean they are in government and they didn't have to wait for that. This idea of trying to fight corruption through copycat and tit-for-tat is not going to work. It's a ploy to divert focus from NYS but it's too late," he said.
