ODM party leader Raila Odinga (left) flanked by other Cord leaders
during a joint press conference on January 10, 2014 at the Serena Hotel
in Nairobi. Raila accused the government of using intimidation as a
reason to kill devolution saying such a move would be strongly resisted.
PHOTO | SALATON NJAU
NATION
The Orange Democratic Movement has said
it will not allow any attempt by the Jubilee government to suspend or
intimidate any county.
ODM leader Raila Odinga accused
the government of using intimidation as a reason to kill devolution
saying such a move would be strongly resisted.
Mr
Odinga was reacting to remarks made by Deputy President William Ruto
during a TV talk show on Wednesday where he told Marsabit Governor Ukur
Yattani to take responsibility of the insecurity in his area.
Mr
Ruto who was speaking during the Cheche show on Citizen TV was also
reported to have said the government may consider suspending the area
county government if security continues to deteriorate.
But
Friday, while addressing a press conference at a Nairobi hotel together
with several ODM affiliated leaders from Marsabit County and other
counties, Mr Odinga termed the DP’s comments as ‘careless’ and meant to
provide reason for the dissolution of the county government.
“We
will not lie low and accept any attempt to kill devolution, for which
Kenyans have fought for so long,” said the former Prime Minister.
Mr Odinga (below) defended Mr Yattani, saying he was not to blame for insecurity in his area as he was not in charge of it.
He
instead asked the Jubilee government to take full responsibility and
ensure the area was secured even from attackers from neighbouring
Ethiopia.
In the recent past, Marsabit has been rocked
by tribal conflict leading to loss of lives and property, and injuries.
Area leaders say the chaos are politically instigated.
“Security
of counties is the responsibility of the national government and does
not lie with the governor, the government has denied governors the
chance to sit in county security committees and should therefore not
blame them for any insecurity in their areas,” said Mr Odinga.
His
sentiments were echoed by Senators Abubakar Godana (Marsabit),
Johnstone Muthama (Machakos) and Siaya’s James Orengo, who also
criticised the Deputy President for his comments and asked him to
respect county governments.
“We remind the Deputy
President that Article Six of the Constitution creates two levels of
governments: National and County, and the relations between the two
levels are based on mutual understanding and cooperation,” said Mr
Godana while reading a statement.
This comes even as a
local human rights organization heaped blame on Mr Yattani accusing him
of ignoring other tribes when it came to appointments and tenders.
Its,
Mr Ibrahim Woche, claimed that the Governor had failed to quell the
tensions in the area and only served to stoke them through skewed
appointments.
Mr Yattani however dismissed the claims by Mr Woche saying he was a local “gun for hire” peddling lies around the county.
“He
is a political con-man who is spreading blatant falsehoods being
propelled by political opponents keen on achieving their own agenda,” Mr
Yatani said.
He said the insecurity situation in
Moyale has now gone beyond the borders and asked the national government
to quickly intervene.
“I don’t direct police. It is
the role of the national government to deal with militiamen crossing to
attack our villagers from Ethiopia,” he added.
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