CORD hits back at President Uhuru Kenyatta over his remarks

CORD co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula consult at a meeting at Serena Hotel on affirmative action. [PHOTO: MOSES OMUSULA]

NAIROBI: CORD leaders have told President Uhuru Kenyatta to stop blaming the Opposition for the failure by his government to tackle insecurity, corruption, rising cost of living and biased ethnic appointments.

They said Uhuru's attacks on CORD leaders were unjustified as the role of the Opposition is to point out where the Government was failing Kenyans.

President Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto, they added, should not look for a scapegoat in the Opposition.

They claimed security has deteriorated under their watch, corruption had reached the highest level, the cost of living has escalated and ethnicity was thriving.

CORD principal Kalonzo Musyoka dismissed Wednesday's foray by President Uhuru Kenyatta into Ukambani, saying the tour was inconsequential.

Kalonzo urged residents not to be hoodwinked by the Jubilee influence but remain firm as CORD.

During the Ukambani trip, President Kenyatta told Opposition leaders to learn to be civilised even as they engage in competitive politics saying that those who lost in the last General  Election should find out why Kenyans rejected them instead of engaging in unnecessary criticism.

Thursday, Kalonzo said Opposition leaders will not be cowed.

"The work of the Opposition in a democracy like ours is not to make noise but to keep the Government on it toes. If we say our people have been massacred like the 147 in Garisssa, is that noise? We can't just keep quiet as our people suffer in shameful attacks. If we say tourism is on its knees, is that noise?... That noise they are saying will send them home, maybe even before 2017," said Kalonzo.

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar (Wiper) said the mandate of the Opposition is to rattle the Government, especially when those in power are not exercising their mandate.

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale said the President should looked at the academic resumes of Opposition leaders before telling them to go back to school.

"It would help if President Uhuru cared to look at our individual academic credentials as Opposition leaders. Then he would decide for himself whether it is him and his Jubilee wheeler dealers who should go back to school or us," said Khalwale.

Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi claimed the president was exhibiting the worst form of intolerance that was reminiscent of one-party rule.

"The president appears to be suffering from some inexplicable phobia for Opposition and seems to be seeing the shadow of CORD, and particularly ODM, in everything that happens around him," claimed Wandayi.

He accused Uhuru of trying to divert attention of Kenyans from his spectacular failure to govern by engaging in needless shadow boxing.

Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati said Uhuru should not expect that the Opposition will clap for him even when the economy of the country is shrinking.