Raila Odinga comes to James Orengo's defence over Lamu land saga

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (right) consults with Siaya Senator James Orengo and his Homa Bay counterpart Otieno Kajwang during the burial of former Karachuonyo MP Adhu Awiti in Homa Bay County Saturday. [PHOTO: TITUS MUNALA/STANDARD]

HOMA BAY COUNTY: Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has dismissed the revocation of title deeds in Lamu as a diversionary tactic by the Jubilee Government to distract attention from the serious challenges it is facing.

Raila defended Siaya Senator James Orengo over claims that he was responsible for allocating the prime land in Lamu to 22 companies when he was in charge of the Lands Ministry.

Speaking during the burial of former Karachuonyo MP Adhu Awiti in Homa Bay County Saturday, the Opposition principal said the Jubilee Government should instead question former President Mwai Kibaki, because he had the constitutional mandate to allocate land.

“Orengo is very clean on the matter; it is wrong for the Government to place the land saga on him. We know it is an act of mudslinging, intended to paint ODM in bad light,” Raila said.

The ODM leader, who served with Kibaki as Prime Minister, said he worked hard to correct land injustices during his tenure.

“I personally took Orengo to Lamu so that we could prevent land grabbing,” he claimed.

Saying the Government is trying to shift attention from the Opposition CORD’s bid to conduct a national referendum to address the challenges bedeviling the country, Raila said land grabbers are known, and that ministers were not signatories to title deeds before the new Constitution was put in place.

He further claimed that the President had no power to revoke title deeds and said such authority was vested in the National Land Commission (NLC).

Emotive issue

“Although land is a very emotive issue, the government has failed to implement the report by the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission that touches on land injustices and is instead shifting blames,” he lamented.

When he announced the revoking of the land documents on Thursday, President Kenyatta warned that those responsible for the Lamu scandal would be prosecuted. Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu hinted that Orengo, among other leaders, was being investigated to see if he had played a role in the land deals.

But the Siaya senator declared that he did not fear being arrested over the matter, and maintained his innocence.

However, he said he was ready to cooperate with NLC, saying he has a lot of evidence

that can help the it correct land injustices in Kenya: “I’m ready to appear before the commission and reveal all that happened when I was Lands minister.”

He further stated that his name did not appear in the list of 22 companies mentioned by the President over the land saga.

“We know the Government has brought the land issue to politically fight Raila at the Coast, but we are ready to deal with them.”

The contentious title deeds to the prime property were issued between 2011 and 2012 under the Grand Coalition government.

Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo challenged Kenyatta to arrest his predecessor, Mwai Kibaki, over the illegal land transactions, saying he was the only person who had powers to allocate land.

“If any investigation is to be carried out, then Kibaki should be the first person to be investigated because he was the only person who was authorised by law t to allocate land,” Midiwo said.

Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’, on the other hand, challenged the President to revoke the titles of the huge chunks of land that his family owns in Taita Taveta “if he is really serious about addressing the land problem”.

And Nominated senator Elizabeth Ongoro claimed Ms Ngilu had overstepped her mandate by usurping the powers of the NLC.

The ODM leaders asked President Kenyatta to stop blaming the last government and concentrate on solving the land issue at the Coast.

ODM Secretary General and Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o claimed Jubilee government had hatched a plot to scuttle CORD’s bid for a national referendum. He said a few individuals had acquired the land illegally while thousands of families living in the county do not have land.

The ODM luminaries demanded that instead of revoking the title deeds, the Jubilee administration should implement the report of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission.

Saturday, Raila also broke his silence over a row that has affected ODM leadership in Homa Bay County. Addressing gatherings at the Homa Bay Bunge la Wanchi Ground in Homa Bay Town and during the burial of former Cabinet Minister Adhu Awiti, Raila maintained that area Senator Otieno Kajwang’ was still the party chairman in the county.

Raila criticised the people who allegedly ousted Kajwang’ from the seat a few months ago. “I have kept quiet about this matter for long, but I want to declare today that Kajwang’ is still the ODM chairman in Homa Bay County. Let anybody who wants to become chairman of the party wait until an election is called,” Raila said.

A few months ago, Kajwang’ and his vice chairperson, Monica Amolo, were allegedly ousted from their office. The post of chairman was taken up by former Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo, and Kasipul politician Charles Ong’ondo Were became vice chairman.