Joseph ole Lenku takes on Raila Odinga over planned mass action

Kenya: Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku and Kajiado West MP Moses Sakuda have accused CORD leader Raila Odinga of trying to seize power unconstitutionally.

They also rubbished Raila’s ultimatums to the Government to enter negotiations with CORD, saying he is not equal to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Speaking separately in Narok yesterday, Lenku and Sakuda called on the former Premier to wait until 2017 General Election for him to seek the mandate of Kenyans to rule the country.

Lenku (left) was speaking in Inkilonkosi Baptist Church in Narok East Constituency, while Sakuda was speaking in Narok town during a fund raiser in aid of a local church.

“Raila and company have tucked away their children to safety and they are now calling on other people to come out to the streets. If they are sincere, let them expose their children to this danger they want to expose other people’s children,” said Lenku.

Sakuda told Kenyans to peacefully defend Kenyatta’s presidency and urged the President not to negotiate with CORD.

“Majority of Kenyans are against the planned rallies. They don’t want to witness chaos reminiscent of 2007-2008 botched presidential polls where lives and property were lost,” he said.

Public holiday

He said the President was popularly elected and accused CORD of disrespect to the institution of the presidency, an act that could plunge the country into chaos.

Sakuda also told Raila that he has no powers to declare Saba Saba a public holiday, saying the Constitution stipulates that there are only three public holidays.

He asked Kenyans not to attend CORD rallies, saying the former PM should groom his son because Kenyans will not elect him to rule the country.

“Due to his advancing age and combative style of leadership, he will not be elected. It is time for him to groom his son to take over from him,” said the MP, who added that the presidency has eluded Raila since the 1982 attempted coup. 

Lenku maintained that Raila should be responsible in his utterances, adding that reckless talk may plunge the country into anarchy.