Nairobi: The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has distanced itself from utterances by a section of its MPs who called for the reassignment of Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo and Chief of Defence Forces Samson Mwathethe.
Thursday, MPs Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda), Junet Mohammed (Suna East), Abdikadir Aden (Balambala) and Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba) called for the sacking or reassignment of the two following the attack on Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops in which an unestablished number of them died.
“The party stands solidly behind the leadership of our troops and the defence forces at this critical and sad moment,” said Chair John Mbadi in a press statement.
The MPs had also criticised the president for what they said was the "casual manner" he had treated the death of the soldiers.
“We recognise that this is no time for blame games. It is not the time to call for resignations,” he added.
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Mbadi said the positions taken by the MPs on this matter remain their personal opinions, which they are entitled to hold and that they are not the positions of the party as a corporate entity.
Mbadi made the clarification even as CORD leader Raila Odinga and co-principals Moses Wetangula and Kalonzo Musyoka joined President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto at the Forces Memorial Hospital to honour the KDF troops.
Representatives from the European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) were also present. They all pledged support in the fight against terrorism.
