Draft constitution will not face hurdles, assures Raila

By Standard Team

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said contentious issues in the constitution review will be resolved before the draft is subjected to a referendum.

Raila said the Government is not ready for a repeat of the 2005 referendum humiliation when Kenyans rejected the draft constitution.

"I assure Kenyans the contentious issues witnessed in the ongoing constitution review process would be agreed upon before the draft is taken to the people," he said.

He was addressing mourners during the burial of former political activist Patrick Onyango Sumba in Siaya District, on Saturday.

Cabinet ministers James Orengo (Lands), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Medical Services), Finance Assistant Minister Oburu Odinga and Raila’s wife Ida Odinga were present.

Others were MPs Jakoyo Midiwo and Edwin Yinda.

Raila paid tribute to Sumba, who he said was at the forefront in the liberation struggle.

Succession politics came into play during the burial when Orengo backed Raila for president in 2012.

"We are in a long journey and we are confident Raila will enable us carry the day," he said.

Orengo lauded US President Barack Obama and International Criminal Court Luis Moreno Ocampo for blocking certain individuals from sabotaging the reform process.

"Ocampo and Obama have created a big road block for some anti-reform leaders and others who were out to vie for presidency have chickened out," said Orengo

He said his ministerial position would not stop him from speaking out on the evils in Government.

"When dealing with issues affecting Kenyans like bad governance, I will not be deterred by the flag," said the Ugenya MP.

Nyong’o said those currently in leadership did not participate in the first and second liberation.

"We should not allow children of the second liberation to be swallowed without benefiting from what they were struggling for," he said.

Changing fortunes

Meanwhile, ODM and Ford-Kenya forces gather today at the graveside of first Vice-President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga in a rare political meeting.

The late doyen of opposition politics is Raila’s father. He was also the founding party leader of Ford-Kenya, now under the stewardship of Nominated MP Musikari Kombo.

The visit comes two weeks after Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa told The Standard on Sunday a ‘major political event’ that could change the fortunes of the party was on card.

On paper, however, sources from both sides maintain today’s event is purely a Ford-Kenya affair "to pay homage to the founder party leader" at his mausoleum in Kang’o village.

"I gather the green, black and white coloured flags we hung by our party leader’s graveside are worn out and we are simply going back to spruce up the place and pay homage to Jaramogi," Kombo told The Standard On Sunday.

Ford-Kenya Director of Elections Audi Ogada said all presidential aspirants on the party’s ticket, including Kombo, Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula, Lands Assistant Minister Bifwoli Wakoli and Eugene will be in Bondo.

Similarly, all the party national officials, Members of Parliament, chairpersons and branch leaders across the country will attend the function.

Sources say Finance Assistant Minister Oburu Odinga will play host to the guests. Other than Oburu, the Kombo-led team will be met by Nyong’o, Orengo and other Nyanza MPs.

Oburu said ODM is keen on warming up to other parties ahead of the 2012 General Election.

"While I’m not in a position to speculate on whether politics will be at play, the very idea that the Ford-Kenya fraternity is coming over is positive," he said.