The Orange Democratic Movement has told off National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula over what it has termed as involvement in its discipline decisions.
ODM in a statement hit back at Wetang’ula after he ‘assured’ rebels that their expulsion would not hold.
Speaking in Uriri in Migori over the weekend, Wetang’ula said even if ODM locks affected leaders out, there are other parties open for them as long as they are ready to work for the mandate of the people.
“We want to tell all elected leaders that the door to work with government for development is open as long as it is done in a Constitutional manner. The same frustrations metted to those leaders also happened to us,” he said.
But in a rejoinder, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said Wetang’ula should focus on his responsibilities as the Speaker of the National Assembly to uphold and protect the independence of Parliament.
Sifuna noted that holding such an office makes him both the head of the crucial third arm of government and therefore a supportive neutral arbitrator in legislative and political party issues instead of taking sides.
The Nairobi Senator termed him a Kenya Kwanza appendage, saying great men who have occupied the same office in the past picked the path of statesmanship over psychopathy and partisanship when they were confronted with heavily divisive issues.
“If Wetang’ula feels constrained to speak, we challenge him to lay down the instruments and garb of the office of the Speaker and meet us on the political platform like any other politician, so that we can take on him as we have effectively done in the past,” Sifuna said.
“Wetang’ula is at liberty to advise his rebel friends to cross the floor, even to his own Ford Kenya party, so that the people can have a second chance at the ballot to elect those who still hold the ideals of ODM to heart.”
Sifuna noted that despite taking over as the Speaker, Wetang’ula has never deemed it fit to resign as chairman of Ford Kenya.
“He runs the party like an echo chamber of a fiefdom where dissent is not allowed and his word is law; hardly the image of democracy he preaches to us,” Sifuna said.
Wetang'ula had further faulted Raila for preaching democracy for the masses and fighting the same democracy in his party, terming it draconian behaviour.
