President William Ruto has shifted a gear higher in his scheme to neutralize Azimio leader Raila Odinga by engineering a plan to cut him down to size in his Luo Nyanza backyard.
According to the new plan, the ODM Mps who visited Ruto at State House two weeks ago will be transformed into a rebel group whose job would be to ‘liberate’ Luos from the grip of Odinga.
A total of nine Mps from Luo Nyanza visited Ruto on February 9 sparking an uproar from ODM which said the president was using under hand tactics to destroy the opposition.
Those who attended the State House meeting include former Raila aide Caroli Omondi who is the current Suba South Mp.
Others present included Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Phelix Odiwor Jalango (Langata), Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu East, Independent), Paul Abuor (Rongo), John Owino (Awendo) and Tom Ojienda (Kisumu).
Ochanda who was last week fired as ODM Bondo branch chairman has been touted as the leader of the new anti Raila liberation group assisted by Jalango who will be the secretary general.
“We haven’t gone that direction yet. Not yet, but can’t be ruled out under the circumstances,” Ochanda has told the Daily Nation.
Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir, an Independent MP however said he is not part of the anti liberation group but he is aware of its existence.
“I am not in the caucus but I know Ochanda is the chairman. I was told that he is the chairman of the caucus but I even told the President at the time that I had come to meet him as an Independent and not as a member of any caucus,” Shabir told Nation.
It remains to be seen how this latest development will play out. Raila has already asked the lawmakers who met Ruto to resign.
“Very cheap, unprincipled for a political party to say after the election you are now resigning and going to join the coalition that you ran against. That is political prostitution,” Raila cautioned.
According to Raila, the Members of Parliament who met President William Ruto are self-seeking individuals who must be rejected by their voters at all cost.
“On what basis did UDM resign to go to the other side, even before the speaker was elected. What is now more attractive in Kenya kwanza than Azimio? Political prostitution must be condemned.” Raila asserted.
