Residents call on MP to apologize over remarks

Mavoko MP Patrick Makau. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard]

Residents of Mavoko constituency in Machakos county have called on their  area MP Patrick Makau to apologize over his recent alleged utterances he made on the area leadership.

 Addressing the press on Saturday  at a hotel along Mombasa road,the residents led by the chair of Kikuyu council of elders in the county Kumu Ndiritu said that the utterances made by  the MP if not apologized  may create animosity and fear among area residents.

 They said that if the MP fails to apologize investigative agencies should move in and investigate him over the remarks.

 "The MP while addressing mourners in a burial service here in Machakos county he said that all elected seats in this county must be of the indigenous Kamba community,"said Ndiritu

 He said that the utterances may lead to violence during campaigns and election time when members of the other communities declare their  interest in vying or participating in the election as candidates adding that the area is a cosmopolitan one with people from all parts of the country living there.

  Ndiritu further said that Makau had warned people living in the constituency and not from the community to  only take care of their lands and keep of the local  politics.

 " Kenya is a great country and any Kenyan is free to be elected in any area regardless of his or her tribe.If he doesn`t apologize we will call on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Commission and Integration Commission (NCIC) to summon  and interrogate him  over the remarks,"added   Ndiritu

  Joseph Were another resident and who said he represented members of the Luyia community said said that the MP's utterances were reckless and called on him to apologize to the residents of Machakos county.

 On her part Ann Mwangi said that majority of women from the Kamba community have intermarried with other Kenyans and have families thereby terming Makau`s  remarks as  unfortunate and baseless.

 Reached for comment,Makau said that there was nothing wrong with the sentiments he made adding that its the same way other leaders are calling for protection and safeguarding their regions politically.

 "And again when mount  Kenya says the mountain should not be touched,what's wrong when another region says the same,"said the MP.