Stop politicking and work, Raila tells ODM leaders

ODM party leader Raila Odinga.  [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Leader Raila Odinga has urged the party's elected members to refrain from early campaigns, jeopardising service delivery to Kenyans.

Speaking at an ODM Parliamentary Group meeting in the outskirts of Nairobi on Friday, Odinga told the members not to cripple those elected by the early campaigns, calling out leaders who are campaigning for higher positions, just a year into office.

"Those elected as MCAs are now campaigning to become MPs…they have hardly served the people. We also have MPs who are campaigning to become governors, the same as Senators and Women Reps who are aiming for Governors. The time will come, just support those in power now before starting the campaigns,” said Odinga.

The ODM Leader referenced the United States where he said campaigns start at least a year before the elections, unlike Kenya where people declare their candidature for higher seats just after elections.

"This has created enmity among our members because everyone is in full campaign mode. And they are hiring our youths to run such campaigns. This should end," he said.

He at the same time remarked on a dossier released on Thursday, November 16, on what he termed as a controversial government-to-government oil deal, which he alleged is nothing but a sham aimed at driving up the cost of fuel while benefiting shadowy State officials.

"My dossier yesterday was directed at the Executive, not the leader of Majority Kimani Ichung’wah. All I am asking for is for the government to show the Memorandum of Understanding that they signed between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.”

"We are not asking for a signed document between the Energy CS and the Chief Executive Officer of ARAMCO. Let them show us tax returns from the shadowy companies handling the cargo. We also want to know why the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) boss was involved in the negotiations yet he is the one fixing prices," he added.

Already, Energy CS Davis Chirchir has rubbished Odinga's remarks explaining that Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) were over the last two years unable to access petroleum products over an alleged lack of USD liquidity and outstanding subsidies from the government.

Chirchir added that the government, upon coming into power, put out a tender for government-owned international oil companies to bid for the supply of petroleum on 180-day deferred payment terms and a contract period of 270 days.

“Contrary to the assertion that the government selected/handpicked the Nominated Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), the selection of the Nominated OMCs is the prerogative of the International Oil Companies (IOCs) in line with the Master Framework Agreement," the CS said in a press statement on Thursday evening.