Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) MPs reacted angrily to Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi's sentiments on coalition leader Raila Odinga.
The legislators claimed that the former vice president should be thankful to Raila for rescuing him from political oblivion in 2007.
MPs John Mbadi (Suba), Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja), Olago Aluoch (Kisumu West) and Fred Outa (Nyando) laughed off the invitation from Mr Mudavadi for Raila to join ANC likening it to a small river that should join the big river, in this case CORD.
They challenged Mudavadi to tell Kenyans the truth on how he ended up being one of the two deputy prime ministers in the grand coalition government.
They said Raila's move to pick Mudavadi helped resuscitate his political career.
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"It should be recalled that Mudavadi, who had been consigned into what looked like political oblivion by the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) wave of 2002, had been written off by most political observers," the Orange Democratic Movement's (ODM) Director of Political Affairs said, adding that his appointment as deputy premier by Raila crowned a spectacular come-back.
Wandayi said it's inconceivable that Raila would leave a behemoth of a movement, ODM, to join 'a small political outfit'.
"ODM remains the only movement in Kenya today that truly embodies the hopes and aspirations of millions of the people. The Luhya, just like the rest of Kenyans, find a natural home in it," he said.
Mr Mbadi said it would be prudent if Mudavadi and his ANC team joined CORD which he said is a bigger coalition to swallow both ODM and ANC.
But in a swift rejoinder Mudavadi claimed that ODM has no vacancy for him as alleged by Raila.
"We are not afraid of partnership, but we must be equals not cheerleaders. The vacancy Raila is talking about is already taken up by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho," said Mudavadi.
ANC Secretary General Godfrey Osotsi said circumstances that made Mudavadi quit ODM have not changed.
"Mudavadi left ODM (in 2013) because it lacked democracy and it is still evident that it still lacks democracy as can be seen in the way they carry out their grassroot elections. We welcome Raila and his team to join ANC as affiliate members," said Mr Osotsi.
consolidate support
But Mr Olago said: "ANC is the one to join CORD since this could consolidate support for Luhya and Luo communities for stronger bargaining power."
Lurambi MP Raphael Otaalo (ODM) also dismissed calls to have ANC and ODM merge saying the move would kill Mudavadi's ambitions of contesting for presidency in 2017. But Mbadi said: "If CORD nominates Mudavadi as the presidential candidate then we will have no other option than to support him."
