National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has called on the Azimio La Umoja leadership to embrace political tolerance to foster unity among Kenyans.
Wetangula argued that most elected leaders from the opposition side who have decided to work closely with the Kenya Kwanza administration get castigated and sometimes abused in their backyard.
He said it was wrong for Azimio's top leadership to call for peace and unity among Kenyans if in their perceived strongholds they publicly criticise MPs who have embraced working together.
The speaker said for the country to realize real unity, leaders must be tolerant of views and opinions from different sides.
“We should stand firm and walk the true path of unity and togetherness. To be united it's not a must be in the same uniform but to walk in the same vision and direction,” Wetangula said.
He spoke during a fundraiser at St Joseph Tonga Parish Catholic Church in the Suba South constituency.
Wetangula said Kenya has come far as a country and leaders should be on the front line of uniting Kenyans.
Wetangula who was in the company of the Cabinet Secretary for ICT & Digital Economy Eliud Owalo and former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero told Azimio leadership to allow its MPs who see it wise to work with the government to do so freely.
They were hosted by Suba South MP Caroli Omondi. Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma also attended the event.
Caroli is among the MPs from Raila Odinga's Luo Nyanza backyard who have been on the receiving end for agreeing to work with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Others are Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Elisha Odhiambo ( Gem), Mark Nyamita ( Uriri) and Paul Abuor (Rongo). Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda is also on the list.
The leaders have been criticized for working closely with the government of President William Ruto.
On Sunday, Wetangula recalled that he also walked with Raila on the same political journey in the 2013 and 2017 elections without success.
He said it is not a must that people must succeed only when they are in a particular political party.
“I don't hold political grudges. But I must tell you that I left CORD and NASA and now I'm the speaker of the national assembly,” he added.
He also gave an example of Owalo who he said was also Raila's right-hand man in the 2013 and 2017 general elections.
“My Luhya community overwhelmingly voted for Raila's father Jaramogi in the 1992 presidential election. There's no need of rebuking others when they can succeed elsewhere," Wetangula said.
Owalo reminded the Luo community that they are past the 2022 presidential election, adding that they should focus on development.
He said the Kenya Kwanza government is undertaking development across the country regardless of the voting pattern.
“Luos must understand that we have a government whose agenda is to improve their lives. We must stop politics of rhetorics because they currently add no value,” Owalo said.
Kidero told Azimio leadership to recognize Ruto's presidency on grounds that they have also agreed to support their political competitors.
Kidero lost Homa Bay gubernatorial race to Governor Gladys Wanga.
He asked Raila and other Azimio brigades to give President Ruto time to deliver on his mandate.
“Recognize Ruto as the president of Kenya as we have also done to our competitors. We're not betrayers as others want people to believe. We're seeking development for our people as well,” Kidero said.
Caroli said he will continue working with the Kenya Kwanza government to bring development to the people.
He said he will disregard party politics in order to develop his constituents.
“If developing our people is what can make us be abused so be it. Suba region has lagged behind so much and I can't sit back and see it continues,” Caroli said.
Kaluma told Wetangula to use his wisdom as a speaker to ensure the bipartisan talks succeed.
“I sit with Wetangula in the speaker’s panel and I know your capacity. Let the bipartisan talks achieve its reasons why it was started,” Kaluma said.