Frankline Bett opts out of ODM polls

Frankline Bett

 By NIKKO TANUI

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has lost one of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Kingpins in South Rift.

The party Election Board chairman, Franklin Bett said the party leadership had asked him to serve in the same capacity in the forthcoming party elections but had declined the offer.

Speaking to the press in Kericho town, the former Roads Minister said he was forced to withdraw from the board due to the constant politicking and grumbling after an election is held.

“It is frustrating when after the party holds peaceful and fair election across the country, the party leadership begins a vicious infighting and these are the issues I don’t want to be associated with anymore,” Bett said.

The former Cabinet Minister also announced that he was not vying for any position in the party since he had quit the party. He nonetheless said that he had not joined any other political party.

“For the moment, I am not a member of any political party but an ordinary Kenyan concentrating on my business enterprises I have here and there,” Bett said.

The former Bureti legislator said that he was shelving his political life until 2017 when after thorough consultations with members of the Kalenjin community he would make up his mind on the political direction to take and which party to support and join.

However, turning biblical and quoting Romans 13, Bett said he would give his support to Jubilee government saying every authority in power has been “sanctioned from above” and one is better advised to support and respect it.

“I will fully support the leadership of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto but if only they rise up to the occasion and address the needs of Kenyans by implementing the development agenda,” Bett said.

The withdrawal of Bett leaves former energy assistant Magerer Langat as the only prominent politician from South Rift who is still in the ODM camp.