New Kenyan MP Elijah Memusi, lambasts President Uhuru over Jubilee loss in Kajiado Central’s mini-polls

Interior Security CS Joseph Nkaissery leaves the Kajiado Cetral CDF office shortly after handing over to the newly elected Member of Parliament Memusi Kanchory over the weekend. [PETERSON GITHAIGA/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: The newest member of the National Assembly Elijah Memusi (Kajiado Central) made his maiden speech in the House with a scathing attack on President Uhuru Kenyatta’s preferred political vehicle for 2017. He said the Jubilee Alliance Party was an “ideologically bankrupt party”.

Memusi spent ten minutes extolling the opposition leaders, thanking his voters, and lambasting the ruling Jubilee coalition and its embryonic Jubilee Alliance Party which lost the parliamentary seat contest in his constituency.

“We are masters of our own destiny, we are not experimental ground for ideologically bankrupt parties,” said Memusi late Tuesday.

The Kajiado Central lawmaker said he was happy that even with the colossal State resources and lots of cash that were dished out at the campaigns in a bid to make voters to back the government candidate Patrick Tutui, the constituents of Kajiado Central saw it wise to elect the opposition candidate.

The prime opposition catch from the vast cosmopolitan constituency near Kenya’s capital city Nairobi, said the three opposition principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula were instrumental in stemming the government tide, and in ensuring that the opposition retained the seat which was left vacant when Joseph Nkaissery was appointed as the Cabinet Secretary for Interior.

“Yes we labored, but not in vain. Even with the massive barrage of propaganda, crude threats, bribery, abuse of power and empty promises, the people still voted for the best candidate. It was a victory of the common man against the tyranny of power,” said Memusi.

In an articulate submission at a session presided over by the Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso on the day that Speaker Justin Muturi was facing censure, Memusi oozed hope that given the honesty of the voters in Kajiado, the integrity of the National Assembly can be salvaged.

“If a humble peasant can refuse dozens of shillings to sell the birthright to elect a good leader, I believe that MPs will always behave in a manner that is beyond reproach,” said Memusi, at a time when MPs’ standing is at an all-time law

Though he was taunted in the House by the Majority Leader Aden Duale (Garissa Township), Memusi had the presence of mind to call on the Deputy Speaker for protection.

 “We have sent the signal that no might is powerful enough to thwart the will of the people. Every vote must not only be counted, but must also count,” said Memusi.

For Odinga, Memusi was greatful that the CORD leader, who is away in China on a business trip, was around during the campaigns with his “his charisma and oratory prowess”.

“Indeed I now know why he is being referred to as the enigma of Kenyan politics,” said Memusi of Odinga.

Musyoka and Wetangula were also lauded for their selflessness.

The Director of Elections for ODM, Junet Mohammed (Suna East) also got a special mention as “a fearless man who stood by me all the way, a man who ensured that all those who engage in electoral malpractices were arrested; who helped reduce all avenues of digital rigging.”

The political influence of veteran Maasai leader Willian ole Ntimama, Memusi said, was still intact. He asked Jubilee leaders to apologise to Ntimama for calling him a “dinosaur” or “vasco da Gama”, in a culture where age and old people have to be respected without question.

“Go to Narok and seek forgiveness,” said Memusi.