Leaders hit out at PM over Rift tour

by Vitalis Kimutai

Ten ODM councillors in Konoin constituency have hit out at Prime Minister Raila Odinga for sidelining Rift Valley MPs in his recent tours of the region.

The civic leaders said the PM had shown disrespect to elected leaders by choosing to work with politicians who lost in the last General Election.

"Raila’s move is a clear indication that he has underrated the intelligence of the electorate and insulted elected leaders," said the councillors in a statement.

Councillors and the local MP Julius Kones snubbed Raila’s Sunday tour of Konoin constituency.

MPs from the Kipsigis community including Cabinet Minister Franklin Bett also skipped the church service and later a public meeting the PM addressed.

In their statement issued at Litein trading centre yesterday the councillors said: "Raila has chosen to work alone, which is disrespectful of the region’s leadership."

Councillors William Mosonik, Robert Serbai, Dominic Ngetich, Reuben Kobiro, David Langat, David Korir, Liz Tum, Eunice Leitich and Josephat Koech said in their statement Raila erred in sidelining Agriculture Minister William Ruto and other ODM MPs in his tour.

Who needs who?

"It should go on the record that all MPs and councillors from the region voted for Raila in the last General Election, but he did not vote for anyone of us. So, who needs who more?" they asked.

Lands Minister James Orengo, his Regional Development colleague Fred Gumo, nominated MP Musa Sirma, former MPs Raphael Kitur and Reuben Ndolo accompanied Raila in his tour of Konoin.

Dr Kones said in a statement earlier he had not been involved in the planning of the PM’s tour of his constituency and there was no way he could have attended.

He added: "Raila is in a self-generated path to destruction and we are watching and enjoying every part of the unfolding scenario. The fact that those accompanying him are directly insulting elected leaders is testimony enough of how ungrateful the PM is."

A week earlier, the PM had made a similar foray into Chepalungu constituency, which was also skipped by local MP Isaac Ruto.

Mr Sirma said leaders from Rift Valley could not afford to part ways with Raila having supported him in the last General Election.