ODM lauds Kalonzo for ditching G7

Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba has lauded Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka for ditching G7 Alliance but sympathised with Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa for accepting House majority leader post in the group.

Mr Namwamba said that House majority leader post was dependent on many factors and can only be confirmed after the elections.

“It is a pity that Wamalwa has been offered hot air. This position depends on so many things including the leader being approved by elected members,” said Mr Namwamba. Read (Wiper’s Mutula to host ODM amid alliance talk)

He termed the pact as a raw deal given that nobody is sure whether their alliance will deliver the required threshold to secure the position.

Mr Namwamba also asked Eldoret North MP William Ruto to learn from history before accepting coalition deals with some leaders.

“The late Jaramogi once said no Kenyatta! no Odinga! no uhuru! but that statement was not rewarded when Kenyatta took power. Raila said Kibaki tosha and his loyalty was not rewarded. Kalonzo was called in to save Kibaki government following the post-election mayhem but he has been left in the cold. So, Ruto should learn from history,” he said.

Mr Namwamba was speaking at Iten in Elgeiyo Marakwet during the ODM Reloaded meeting.

ODM was taken to task to explain why the Prime Minister Raila Odinga did not fulfill his promise of awarding the county with ministerial positions even as the region voted for him massively in 2007.

Local residents wanted to know why PM Odinga did not reward their loyalty given that he is a part of the power sharing deal in the government.

This came even as assistant minister in the office of the PM John Mbadi agreed that the Kalenjin community had done a lot to make Mr Odinga the person that he is today.

“One thing that we shall not forget is the contribution that this community made to ODM in 2007, indeed we are grateful,” said Mr Mbadi.

Mr Mbadi who is also the Gwasi MP, noted that Nyanza will forever remain indebted to the people of Rift Valley for their massive support and challenged the two communities to remain friends regardless of their party differences.

Addressing the ODM Reloaded team at the County Council hall in Iten, the locals requested the PM to reward the community with some key positions even though the period of the current regime was coming to an end.

“We know the time for this government is nearly coming to an end, but if the PM wants us to vote for him, then he has to fulfill his promise,” said Mr David Koech.

However, Mr Namwamba said that ministerial positions are very few and they could not be dished to everyone.

He argued that it is not a must for one to be appointed in government to spur development in their region.

“I was elected as an MP but what I have done is much more than what some ministers have done for their Constituencies,” said Mr Namwamba who was appointed to the Cabinet a few weeks ago.