Speaking during the burial of veteran radio journalist Agao Patrobas on December 18, Nyando Member of Parliament Jared Okelo vowed to resign in two weeks if National Super Alliance (NASA) leader is not sworn in as the Peoples’ President.
The first time MP told mourners that he has always been sure of Raila’s win. “I went into Parliament not to sit in the Opposition benches but to support President Raila Odinga's policies as he discharges his mandate from the state house. I had scanned the environment, followed the polls and was confident of a Raila win,” he told them.
Okelo further said he is not ready to work as an MP with Uhuru Kenyatta as president while Raila was left out in the cold.
He urged NASA to hasten plans to swear-in Raila and his Deputy Kalonzo Musyoka or he will quit the office he has held for the past four months.
He claimed that NASA is taking too long to carry out the plans and insisted that Raila’s right to be president was taken away unlawfully by Uhuru. “This perennial electoral theft must come to an end for the country to move forward. Delivering electoral justice is the panacea to the ills bedeviling Kenya as a nation. Stealing elections three terms in a row is unacceptable,” he further stated.
Okelo’s outburst comes as many NASA supporters are left to second guess the fate of the coalition after the much-anticipated swearing-in was postponed for the second time.
Raila was to be sworn in on November 28, on the same day that President Uhuru took his oath of office. Raila later announced December 12 during the Jamhuri Day celebrations. The latter was postponed only a day to the event leaving supporters disappointed.
The idea of swearing-in Raila has been countered by many including Attorney General Githu Muigai who warned NASA against carrying out the plans. According to him, such an act is illegal and could be termed as treason which earns one a death penalty.
There are speculations regarding the date of the same since Kalonzo Musyoka has not returned from Germany where he has been looking after his sick wife. Kalonzo was expected back on December 17 but supporters later heard he postponed his arrival.
Attending the burial were Kisumu Senator Fred Outa, area MP Aduma Owuor, and other recognized guests.
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