Leaders clash over Cord’s ‘dismal’ show

A war of words has erupted between the Jubilee administration and the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy over the latter’s performance in Parliament.

The fight was ignited by ODM Party Leader Anyang’ Nyong’o, who accused Jubilee of spearheading propaganda that the Opposition had failed to keep the government in check in Parliament.

“A well orchestrated propaganda is being fed to the Kenyan public seeking to find an excuse for Jubilee’s poor performance in government,” Prof Nyong’o said.

The propaganda blames the Opposition for not having kept Jubilee in check, hence its poor performance, according to the ODM leader, who termed it as “utter nonsense and absolute balderdash”.

“One would have thought that a weak Opposition would give Jubilee a field day to push all its policies through Parliament without let or hindrance,” Prof Nyong’o added.

He accused the Jubilee coalition of both the “tyranny of both numbers and political hubris”.

“Jubilee has succeeded in perfecting the reign of propaganda and the tyranny of lies that now leads it to attempt to out-source its incompetence to the Opposition,” he said as he pointed a finger at the ruling coalition’s strategist Moses Kuria.

However, National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale criticised Prof Nyong’o.

“We have no problem with the Cord leadership in the National Assembly and it’s up to Cord to sort out its issues,” he said Monday.

“When Cord is trying to clean up its own house, where does Jubilee come in?”

Mr Duale said it was wrong for the coalition to blame Jubilee.

Mr Duale said that contrary to Prof Nyong’o claims, Jubilee had performed in Parliament and that all its Bills had been passed.

The performance of Cord’s Minority Leaders Francis Nyenze (National Assembly) and Moses Wetangula (Senate) has come under scrutiny with Suna East MP (ODM) Junet Mohamed calling for their removal.

Also on the spot are Deputy Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo, Chief Whip Gideon Mung’aro and his deputy, Mr Chris Wamalwa.

Public Accounts Committee chairman Ababu Namwamba and Public Investment Committee boss Adan Keynan have not been spared.

Yesterday, Mr Mohamed stood his ground and denied his claims of poor performance by the opposition was a Jubilee agenda. He told the Opposition not to live in denial.

“The Opposition must look itself in the eye and assess what it has achieved in the last one year,” he said.

“Recent opinion polls have been clear on Opposition’s rating,” he added.

He challenged Cord to indicate the agenda that it achieved in the last Parliamentary sessions or any that it tried to push through but was shot down by Jubilee MPs.

In addition, some ODM leaders including Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo, analysts Peter Kagwanja and Larry Gumbe, Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar Hassan and former MP Gitobu Imanyara have accused Cord of failing in its role as Opposition.

Nominated MP Johnson Sakaja (TNA) argued that Cord had failed to challenge the Jubilee administration by coming up with alternative policies because it was still mourning its election loss.

“Their failure does not need any propaganda. They are not a robust Opposition because they are stuck in the election loss and have not been able to move on,” he said.

“Kenyans have progressed on and they deserve more than what Cord is offering,” said the TNA chairman

On his part, Mr Kuria denied being behind claims of poor show by Cord in the National Assembly and the Senate.

“Even if we were to be sufficiently magnanimous, there is no constitutional mechanism for donating some members to the opposition,” he said.

In Machakos, however,  Cord co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka defended its leadership in both Houses of Parliament.

The Wiper Democratic leader said the coalition was fully satisfied with the leadership of Mr Wetangula and Mr Nyenze .

Mr Musyoka said Mr Odinga and himself consult regularly with the two over Parliament leadership.

“As Cord coalition we have been meeting when there is any matter arising whether in Parliament or at the Senate and we have dealt with it decisively, so I want to assure Kenyans the so called opposition limbo is just a myth,” he said.

Instead, he said the coalition is has played its role as the opposition and corrected the Jubilee government when in the wrong.

“We have actively put this Jubilee government on notice over several issues which we believe they have mishandled or not delivered,” he said.

Mr Nyenze said people have different leadership skills and thus his consultative style of leadership should not be mistaken as not being effective.

He said he has widely consulted leaders and to him he does not need to be seen chest thumping but give other leaders the opportunity to articulate the collective stand of the opposition.

Mbooni MP Kisoi Munyao defended Mr Nyenze over the accusation that he is not offering leadership in parliament.

“I want to send this clear message to our brothers, the position held by minority leader Francis Nyenze belongs to wiper as per the coalition agreement and as a party we have not agreed and we are not ready to replace him,” Mr Munyao said.