Okoa Kenya pushes for injustices to be tackled

What you need to know:

  • Opposition leaders locked out of cultural event venue in Marakwet.
  • Raila accuses Jubilee of failing to address marginalisation of pastoralists, who do not get a fair share of the national cake.

Historical injustices and marginalisation must be addressed, the Opposition said as it took the Okoa Kenya campaign to Marakwet East.

Cord leader Raila Odinga said the Jubilee administration had failed to tame runaway insecurity in the region. He said the side-lining of pastoral communities ought to stop.

“We fought for devolution so that parts of this nation that have been neglected for years, yet they pay taxes, can be equal to other regions,” said Mr Odinga.

He said Jubilee frustrated the devolution spirit and, therefore, it was time to go for an Okoa Kenya referendum to increase funding to counties.

The former Prime Minister said Jubilee should address banditry associated with cattle theft and develop infrastructure.

Mr Odinga likened the altering of a compensation list for Embobut Forest squatters to an historical injustice, saying local leaders hijacked the process to sneak in names of their relatives at the expense of genuine squatters.

He took issue with an Elgeyo-Marakwet politician for allegedly interfering with the list of the beneficiaries of Sh1 billion compensation.

Speaking in Kiswahili, he said lies were peddled that he removed people from the Mau and Embobut catchments, yet the politician came up with a compensation list to benefit certain people, alleged Mr Odinga.

CLOSED THE GATE

When the Cord team arrived at Tot trading centre to attend the closing of the annual Marakwet Cultural Day, which was snubbed by local leaders, a group of people who appeared to have been hired, closed the gate, claiming renovations were going on, and asked the organisers to look for a different venue.

One of the organisers, Mr Stephen Cheboi Kapchila said: “Following the unexpected turn of events at this venue, everybody should move to Tot Primary School grounds.”

Cord leaders condemned the closure of the gate, saying it was shameful and primitive to lock a venue planned for a such an important event.

Cord co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka said: “As we speak now, my brother William Ruto is in Ukambani. What we have faced in Marakwet is an embarrassment. The cultural venue was closed so that Raila and I cannot enter. This is unlike the places we come from, we welcome everybody. We shall pray that those behind this would be touched and be saved,” said the Wiper party leader.

Mr Odinga, who was visiting the county for the second time this month, also used the opportunity to defend himself against the perception that he was involved in the International Criminal Court case against the Deputy President and radio journalist Joshua arap Sang. The two have been charged with crimes against humanity over the 2007 post-election violence.

“There have been lies peddled that it was me who took people to court and wrote letters to The Hague. I repeat that those are lies,” said Mr Odinga who was also accompanied Siaya Senator James Orengo and dozens of Cord MPs.