Kidero still in our camp, says ODM

The Orange Democratic Movement on Sunday came to the defence of Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero following accusations that he had shifted allegiance to the Jubilee Coalition.

In a statement, ODM secretary-general Anyang’ Nyong’o maintained that Dr Kidero remained a life member of both the party and the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord).

“Our attention has been drawn to information circulating in sections of the media claiming that Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero is associating with politicians outside the ODM and Cord fraternity,” Prof Nyong’o stated, adding that Dr Kidero had not indicated plans to quit the party or coalition.

He stated that the Nairobi Governor had been attending meetings and retreats organized by the coalition, the latest being the Cord Governors’ and Senators’ retreat at the Serena Beach Hotel in Mombasa last month.

“As the Governor of Nairobi, which is the seat of power, Dr Kidero is free to work closely with the Executive,” he went on.

The speculation was fuelled the governor’s conspicuous omission from former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s entourage to the US comprising ten Cord governors to market opportunities in their counties to potential investors.

Last Friday, Dr Kidero and members of his county government paid a courtesy call on President Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi.
Writing on his Twitter account after the visit, Dr Kidero praised the President for his commitment to devolution.

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho who also missed the US trip has since refuted reports that he and Dr Kidero boycotted the trip after falling out with Mr Odinga.

“We agreed that those who could not make the first trip will go on the second trip in September, that is why some of us remained behind. I in particular cannot travel during the holy month of Ramadhan,” Mr Joho explained.

The Raila Odinga secretariat has also clarified that governors from outside Cord will be included in a second trip to the US.

“We could not have accommodated all the governors on the trip so we decided to take them in batches. The second batch will go in September,” said the spokesman for the Secretariat, Dennis Onyango.

“The September group will include governors from outside Cord,” he stated.

Diaspora neglected

Meanwhile, Mr Odinga accused the Jubilee government of not being serious about the diaspora in its first 100 days in office.
In an interview with the Nation in Irving, Texas, Mr Odinga said that the government has not shown any commitment to involve the Diaspora in matters related to nation building.

He cited the recent appointment of Mr Dennis Itumbi as the Director Digital, New Media and Diaspora, as a clear indication that the government was not treating the diaspora with the seriousness it deserved.

Speaking on Saturday after the first day of the Bi-National Governors Summit, he said the government should have appointed someone who had been in the diaspora and understood the needs of Kenyans abroad.