UDF threatens to walk out of Jubilee over negligence

By  Grace Wekesa

Kenya: Amani coalition aligned MPs on Sunday  threatened to abandon Jubilee on grounds that it is harassing a section of its leaders.

They also claim Jubilee has failed to initiate tangible development projects in Western region as it had promised.

The UDF MPs, who held a meeting at Matete, Lugari Constituency in Kakamega County, also took issue with the Jubilee Government for frustrating workers from the region through transfers and sackings, saying every Kenyan has a right to work anywhere and should not be discriminated on his or her ethnicity, religion, race or otherwise. 

Through the chairman of Western MPs Peace Forum Alfred Sambu, more than ten MPs mostly drawn from UDF and NFK that form the bedrock of the Amani coalition took issue with the URP leader who is also the Deputy President William Ruto for waging a war against labour union leaders from the region.

Kambi ‘sent’

They claim Ruto, through Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi, has been sent to fight the Central Organisation of Trade Union Secretary General Francis Atwoli through the registration of PUSETU, a rival union mainly made up of civil servants.

“We as Western MPs want the Jubilee Government to explain why they are harassing and sacking professionals from the region from key plum jobs. We want to tell CS Kambi who is in the URP wing of government to stop fighting Atwoli,” Sambu, the Webuye East MP UDF said.

He claimed NSSF has transferred managers from a particular community on grounds that they are perceived to be close to Atwoli, who is a member of the NSSF board.

He claimed NSSF’s Communication and Procurement managers have been transferred to Lodwar and Homa Bay respectively in unclear circumstances.  “What has a professional employee of NSSF to do with the fight between Cotu and Pusetu? Why transfer others from Procurement to an obscure position in Homa Bay where there is even no office for him?” Sambu wondered.

Few elements

Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama on his part said DP Ruto should explain why his party is fighting members of a community from Western region.

“DP should come out clearly to rethink his position,” Wanyama said during. The meetings which kicked off in Kakamega, Mautuma and eventually Matete in Lugari Constituency resolved to galvanise and unite the Luhya vote come 2017.

“This is just the beginning. We  will be holding rallies  in every constituency. Luhyas have no choice but unite under one party come 2017,” Sambu said.  “All Kenyans have a right to work anywhere. Why are our people being demoted and sacked left and Centre,” said Ayub Savula, Lugari MP and the host of yesterday’s meetings.

Savula was accompanied by Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wagwe, Sambu, Wanyama, among others.  Earlier at Gold Hotel in Kakamega Town, Atwoli  in a thinly veiled attack on the DP said he is aware the Government is not fighting Cotu but rather a section of the Jubilee Government.

“President Uhuru does not fight workers. Those who claim have the Government support in fighting us (Cotu) are just but a few elements within Government. No government worth its salt can fight its workers and succeed,” said Atwoli.