ODM party leader Raila Odinga has allayed fears that his unity deal with President Uhuru Kenyatta has weakened the opposition.
As
the country marks a year since the March 9 handshake, Mr Odinga said
the opposition is still strong, but using new tactics in tackling
national issues.
“The opposition is
still there. We have just changed tack. A few years back, we used to
speak out against corruption but no one listened because they claimed
that Raila was being malicious. But now the government is listening,”
said Mr Odinga on Thursday.
SOLUTIONS
He said the opposition continues to play a major role in speaking against theft of public resources.
Mr
Odinga said the handshake had also enhanced co-operation between the
opposition and the government in addressing issues and finding practical
solutions.
He added that the unity deal had given him
roles in the government, perhaps explaining his meetings with senior
officials. On this, he dismissed claims that he had “summoned” CSs on
several occasions, saying that the meetings were "just normal invites"
to discuss development projects.
“I
cannot summon anyone because that would mean I am the boss. But I can
invite the CSs to my office to discuss development projects,” he said.
“The
President and I agreed that there are responsibilities in which I can
assist because I have experience in running government,” Mr Odinga said,
adding that his role as the African Union's High Representative for
Infrastructure Development in Africa had also increased his engagement
with government officials.
On claims that the handshake had divided Jubilee, Mr Odinga said he had not interfered with the party’s affairs.
PROBLEMS
“I
am not a member of Jubilee, so I am only concerned about ODM matters.
Jubilee has its internal problems, like any party. The Jubilee MPs
should not drag us into their fights,” he said.
Some
Jubilee MPs had accused Mr Odinga of using the handshake to scuttle
Deputy President William Ruto’s presidential ambitions, with some
demanding that President Kenyatta clarify Mr Odinga's "position" in the
government.
Early campaigns
However,
Mr Odinga took issue with the early campaigns, which put the country in
an election mood just months after the 2017 General Election.
“Jubilee
is yet to deliver on its promises, yet some leaders are talking about
the 2022 elections. The President and I agreed to focus on development
instead of politicking,” he said.
The
ODM leader has previously defended his handshake with the President,
saying it was not meant to push the Deputy President out of Jubilee.
He
insisted that the pact was to prevent the country from disintegrating
after the disputed 2017 elections, which led to his swearing-in as the
“people’s president”.
The DP’s allies
have expressed reservations about the handshake, questioning Mr
Odinga’s honesty in his dealings with the President.
DAILY NATION
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