Raila pledge to aspirants who fall by the wayside

ODM Leader Raila Odinga in Rongai, Kajiado County, January 10, 2022. [Emmanuel Wanson, Standard]

ODM leader Raila Odinga has promised aspirants who will lose in the nominations that they will be accommodated in his government.

Speaking during the burial of the father to former Kajiado Senator Mositet Ole Kenta in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado county, yesterday, Raila said although only one aspirant will be picked to vie for a particular seat, losing won’t be the end of the world.

“Even if you are not selected, that will not be your end. You will get another job,” said the ODM leader.

Raila revealed that the aspirants will be picked through consensus.

“I will sit down with these people (aspirants) and we will be able to agree with each other. We will also continue working with those who will not get the ticket,” said Raila.

He told mourners that Azimio la Umoja movement aims to unite all Kenyans.

The ODM leader cautioned the electorate against engaging in divisive politics.

“We do not want politics to be a matter of life and death. We want friendly competition because this is a friendly match,” stated Raila.

Raila’s comments come days after Meru Senator Mithika Linturi was arrested by Directorate of Criminal Investigation officers attached to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission over the controversial madoadoa remarks he made during Deputy President William Ruto’s rally in Eldoret.

Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala was yesterday summoned by NCIC over remarks he made regarding the Bukhungu II meeting in Vihiga in December, last year.

Malala called Kakamega his “bedroom” and stated that certain politicians are not invited to visit Kakamega without a permission from ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi.

“Kakamega is my bedroom. So, I want to tell those people that if they don’t get authorisation from Musalia, they should not dare to set foot at Bukhungu Stadium,” he said during the 40th Maragoli Cultural Festival held in Mbale town, last year.

NCIC said such utterances are hateful and fracture the peaceful existence of the communities in the region.

Commission chair Samuel Kobia, while summoning the senator last year said: “Kenya has no bedrooms and living rooms for any politician and there is no space for locking out other politicians from any political side from any part of the country.”

The Bukhungu II meeting in Kakamega that was organised by Central Organization of Trade Union Secretary-General Francis Atwoli on December 31, last year went on even as the senator sponsored a football tournament about 30km away at Mumias Sports Complex the same day.

The decision to invite ODM leader Raila Odinga as a chief guest for the meeting and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi as an ordinary guest raised political tension.

Mudavadi and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangu’la did not attend the Bukhungu II meeting.