Raila, Kidero face off over harambees

CORD leader Raila Odinga has clashed with Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero over fundraisers. The two differed on the importance of harambees at the weekend in separate functions in Homa Bay County.

Kidero has maintained that he will engage in fundraising while his party leader is vehemently opposed to the exercise. According to Raila and his close allies, fundraising cannot bring any change in lives of Kenyans.

Speaking in Rusinga Island, Mbita Constituency when he attended the burial of former Vice Chairman of Luo Council of elders John Anditi, Raila said there was no need for Kenyans to concentrate on fundraising. He maintained that it was only through devolution that Kenyans could realise economic prosperity.

Raila said Kenyans' lives will be improved only if the devolved system of governance works well. He however said good operationalisation can only be achieved if more funds are devolved to counties.

He gave an example of former President Daniel Arap Moi's regime where he said several fundraisers were held but many regions ended up being underdeveloped. "If fundraising had the ability to develop Kenya, Moi could have left this country in a better state," he said.

The CORD leader told President Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto to stop concentrating in fundraisers and instead ensure that more money is devolved to counties.

However, Kidero became defiant to calls by his party leader. Speaking on the same day during a fundraiser at Tonga Girls Secondary School in Suba Constituency, Kidero maintained that nobody should intimidate him to stop participating in fundraising.

He maintained that Harambees were the only way through which various institutions and marginalised areas could get additional money for development. The Governor gave an example with schools in which he said the money allocated for development by the National government was too meager to enable achievement of the desired development projects.

He also warned MPs and other political leaders who criticise him for his endeavours in fundraising to stop it for the sake of well being of Kenyans. "I want tell Kenyans that I am committed to enhancing their lives because this is one of the ways of getting supplementary funds for enriching marginalised regions. I will not be intimidated by anybody because I use my own funds in the exercise," Kidero said.

Kidero has received criticism from some MPs in Homa Bay over his efforts to host fundraisers in South Nyanza region.