CORD blasts Jubilee for ‘buying’ its MPs’ loyalty

CORD co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Moses Wetangula in discussion ahead of the press conference Tuesday. [Photo: Joseph Kibera/Standard]

By Robert Nyasato and James Mbaka

Nairobi, Kenya: CORD is worried that the Jubilee government is splashing cash on its MPs to derail the opposition’s legislative agenda in Parliament.

An insider told The Standard that the MPs raised the matter during their meeting at Orange House in Nairobi yesterday.

They accused the Jubilee administration of undermining the opposition using unorthodox means.

Mentioned was the passage of the draconian media bills, where it was reported that Jubilee MPs influenced their colleagues from CORD to vote for the offensive legislation.

A number of CORD MPs supported the Kenya Information Communication (Amendment) Bill and the Media Council Bill when they came up for debate in the National Assembly.

Some members also claimed that Jubilee had planted moles in the opposition to scuttle their programmes in the upcoming by-elections.

There were also protests that some individuals surrounding the principals were attempting to micro-manage party affairs.

MPs almost caused uproar at the meeting after realising that opposition-allied governors were absent from the forum headed by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Technical appearance

A majority of the governors allied to the coalition were at the annual Development Partners Forum organised by the donor community and the Government. The guest of honour was Deputy President William Ruto.

Only Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi made a technical appearance at Orange House before leaving for the investment forum where his Nairobi counterpart Evans Kidero represented Bomet’s Isaac Ruto as the Governors’ Summit chair.

At the CORD meeting, the Senators and Members of the National Assembly expressed outrage that the 25 governors allied to the coalition had disregarded invitations to the meeting co-chaired by CORD co-principals Raila, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula.

According to a source, the lawmakers were furious claiming that the governors had become disloyal to the coalition that propelled them to power, and were busy attempting to build ‘kingdoms’ around themselves.

Conspicuously absent from the meeting were some of Raila’s close associates, including senators, Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Chris Obure (Kisii), Otieno Kajwang (Homa Bay) and Johnstone Muthama who enjoys close ties with Kalonzo.

Despite the calls by some MPs to postpone the meeting to allow wider inclusion, the principals prevailed to have the forum proceed.

It was unclear why some members left the meeting early, apparently looking disappointed, among them Migori Senator Wilfred Machage, his Nyamira counterpart Mongare Bwo’Okongo and Deputy Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo.

The meeting resolved that the CORD co-Principals spearhead campaigns in the December by-elections, with Raila and Kalonzo heading to Bungoma to drum up support for Wetangula on Friday before trouping to Kisii.

In a departure signalling the likely re-organisation of the coalition, nominated Senator Agnes Zani was tasked to read a scripted statement to the Press before the three co-principals fielded questions.

Interestingly, Raila turned down a special seat reserved for him, apparently to accommodate re-organisation at the front table, which saw new faces, including youthful Kabondo Kasipul MP Onyango Oselle, as Siaya Senator James Orengo took a back seat.

Notable on the agenda was a call to identify the coalition’s mouthpiece to ensure harmony in the flow of information to the public.

In the resolutions read by Nzani, CORD gave President Uhuru Kenyatta a 14-day ultimatum to constitute a commission of inquiry into the Westgate terror attack saying the latest development raised serious concerns.

“We have information that there is resistance from security agencies for the establishment of this commission and as CORD we’re demanding for it to unearth the truth,” Zani charged.

Boycotting proceedings

The coalition threatened to take unspecified action if the Jubilee government failed to heed their call but reliably The Standard learnt that boycotting parliamentary proceedings will be explored.

The leaders complained of skewed and ethnic centred state appointments and particularised the security docket.

“It is very clear that CORD strongholds are side-lined when it comes to appointments within government,” said the leaders.

They asked Kenyans to reject the Nyumba Kumi project, an initiative of the Jubilee Government to address raging insecurity saying it was unconstitutionally conceived.

 “Kenya can’t be a police a state…you cant wake up one day and decide that Joseph Kaguthi will head the Nyamba Kumi Project,” Raila charged. President Kenyatta appointed members of the National Task Force on Community Policing to be headed by Kaguthi, but CORD condemned the initiative as indicative of the Government’s inability to secure Kenyans and their property.

CORD questioned the project’s source of funding given that Parliament didn’t approve a budget, and asked the Jubilee government to embrace consultation when dealing with matters of national concern.