- Ruto on Wednesday named four members of the Orange Democratic Movement as part of his new cabinet.
- ODM disowned the nominations insisting that the four accepted the slots in their individual capacities and that the party was not consulted.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has directed MPs in his party to reject ODM nominated CSs during vetting.
Ruto on Wednesday named four members of the Orange Democratic Movement as part of his new cabinet.
They are Hassan Joho (Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSME Development), John Mbadi (National Treasury) and Opiyo Wandayi who was handed the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum.
ODM disowned the nominations insisting that the four accepted the slots in their individual capacities and that the party was not consulted.
"The truth of the matter is that there is no decision of any organ of ODM that I sit in to join the Ruto government," ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna said on Thursday morning.
ODM leader Raila Odinga backed the claims saying he hand no hand in picking the nominees, further stating that it went against his expectations.
Speaking on Sunday during a church service in Mwingi North, Kalonzo directed Wiper MPs to reject the ODM nominees.
"I have directed the Wiper Party MPs that those four names when they come to Parliament for vetting, Wiper members should vote ‘No’," Kalonzo said.
He challenged ODM MPs to follow suit if indeed their four members were nominated in cabinet against the wishes of the party.
Kalonzo said ODM will be put to task to prove to Kenyans that the nominated CSs were given the positions on their own volition and not as a party.
"If the ODM MPs will vote 'yes' to accept the CSs, then Kenyans will believe that they were lied to," he he said.
We want to see in ODM, 'the proof of the pudding that is in the eating'; when the time comes for vetting CSs, how their MPs will vote," he added.
As a co-principal in the Azimio coalition, Kalonzo said he was neither aware nor consulted on the nominations.
Kalonzo has on several occasions maintained his stance on not working with President William Ruto.
The Wiper party leader said that he will stand with the Gen Z and what they are fighting for.
"We are in a very trying moment as a country and therefore I believe myself that I will stick to the opposition. This is the time," Kalonzo said.
While speaking in Othaya on Saturday, he said his conscience cannot allow him to work with the current government.
"They think that I, Kalonzo Musyoka can join their government? I can't, my conscience will not allow me. Even President William Ruto knows that I will be his opposition, that he openly knows," Kalonzo said.
Kalonzo previously said that leaders have only two options of either standing with the Gen Z or joining the government.
Ruto has defended the inclusion of Opposition leaders in his new cabinet saying the formation of broad-based government aims at enhancing peace and unity in the country.
"I can't run this government alone. Yesterday, I nominated some CSs to form the cabinet. I want to ask Mombasa residents to allow Hassan Joho to work in the cabinet," Ruto said Thursday last week.
On Sunday, the President said the Gen Z-led protests provided an opportunity for the country to be rebulid afresh.