Magerer under pressure to quit ODM

Cord leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka Friday dared rebel MPs and senators in their respective parties to toe the line or ship out.

The two declared that they would not relent in ensuring party discipline, saying all members must abide by the provisions of both the Elections Act and the Political Parties Act.

Mr Odinga and Mr Musyoka warned that party members opposed to the Okoa Kenya referendum drive being spearheaded by the opposition coalition would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

The warning came a day after ODM executive director Magerer Lang’at was ejected from a Cord parliamentary group meeting by youths who accused him of being a Jubilee coalition mole out to wreck the party from within.

However, the two condemned the attack on Mr Lang’at, calling it embarrassing and unacceptable.

“We stand for zero tolerance to political violence. We’ll deal decisively with this trend and action will be taken against those involved in assaulting Magerer,” said Mr Musyoka.

Mr Odinga said his party’s national governing council will meet in two weeks to discuss the incident and take appropriate measures.

“This country has laws that govern the management of political parties. If any member opposes the party position, the party has a right to withdraw his or her membership and occasion a by-election,” said Mr Musyoka.

WASTE OF TIME

They spoke during a thanksgiving party for ODM national women’s league leader Beth Syengo at Ngomeni market in Kitui County. Mrs Syengo was celebrating her recent election as national assistant treasurer of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation.

Mr Musyoka said it was wrong for anyone to ascend to a leadership position and start violating the principles of the parties that sponsored their election.

He took issue with reports that Mwingi North MP John Munuve, who succeeded him, had told residents that the referendum push was a waste of time.

Mr Munuve, who is out of the country, is alleged to have told public meetings in the constituency that he did not support referendum drive because it was bound to fail.

Mr Odinga told all elected leaders that they should respect the leadership of political parties that sponsored them.

MPs who accompanied the two Cord leaders, including National Assembly Minority Leader Francis Nyenze, Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, also condemned the attack on Mr Lang’at.

On the referendum push, the Cord leaders said the ongoing signature collection would be concluded in two weeks.

The signature roll will be handed over to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission on November 15, said Mr Musyoka.

At the same time, the intrigues surrounding Thursday’s attack on Mr Lang’at became clear yesterday as police launched a manhunt for five men captured on camera assaulting him.

PLAN TO KICK OUR LANG'AT

ODM sources revealed that some MPs allied to Mr Odinga had planned to kick Mr Lang’at out of the party over his perceived opposition to the Okoa Kenya referendum campaign and the manner he runs the secretariat.

But the move, which was to be executed through a resolution of ODM’s parliamentary group, was nipped in the bud by Mr Odinga, who felt it would send the wrong signals that the party belongs to a particular community.

“There have been fundamental misgivings about Lang’at by key ODM members, including MPs, over his handling of party affairs. There was also a perception that he does not agree with a number of things the party is pushing for, including the referendum, but he has not been bold enough to say so and step aside,” said a source who sought anonymity for fear of being seen to speak for the former Prime Minister and the outfit.

LIFE IN DANGER

Mr Lang’at’s relationship with Mr Odinga’s close allies deteriorated three weeks ago when he allegedly kicked nominated Senator Elizabeth Ongoro out of the Political Parties Liaison Committee and took up the position.

Mr Lang’at told a press conference Friday that the people who roughed him up were after his life.

He described the incident as “despicable and shameful”.

The former Kipkelion MP said this was the second time goons had been sent in a bid to kill him. He further said he knew the attackers and expected the police to arrest them.

He said he would decide whether to quit or remain in ODM after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Tuesday.

“The NEC will meet on Tuesday. I will wait until then to know the way forward. There are some people who fear changes and freedom of speech. When you say something, they do not take it nicely,” he said.

He maintained that he had never called for Mr Odinga’s retirement from politics as alleged by his attackers.

“I respect my job and my party leader. I believe the attack was sparked by a story in a gossip section of one of the dailies,” said Mr Lang’at.

Police said they had summoned two party officials for interrogation at the Kilimani station.

The two had, however, not turned up at the station by the time of going to press.

Police were also looking for details of three other people, including Nairobi County Majority Leader Elias Otieno, who was captured on camera frogmarching Mr Magerer out of a Cord parliamentary group meeting.

But Mr Otieno denied assaulting Mr Lang’at, saying he was the one who rescued him from the mob.

In Kericho County, assembly Leader of Majority Daniel Rono said: “We demand that stern action be taken against the culprits as a lesson to others.”

Nominated MCA Mary Bett Mabeche urged Mr Lang’at to ditch ODM, accusing the party of having been disrespectful to a man who was loyal to it.

Reported by Kitavi Mutuva, Peter Leftie, Jeremiah Kiplagat, Fred Mukinda and Timothy Kemei