Leave Uhuru alone, Jubilee leaders tell opponents

Chairman of Senatorial Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Kiraitu Murungi (left) addressing the Governors Committee of Agriculture on October 1, 2014. Senator Murungi asked Cord leaders to give the Head of State time to deal with the insecurity. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Nyaribari Chache MP Richard Tongi said insecurity in the country could not be solved by Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo and Interior Cabinet Secretary Jospeh ole Lenku alone.
• Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and his Kitutu Chache counterpart Jimmy Angwenyi told off political leaders who have been using burials to lash out at the government.

By KENNEDY KIMANTHI
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Jubilee leaders on Saturday defended President Uhuru Kenyatta after the Opposition told him to resign over rising insecurity in the country.

The politicians said the personal attacks directed at the President during the burial of Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang were uncalled for.

Speaking during a fund-raiser at Njuki Njiru Primary School in North Imenti sub-county, the politicians led by Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi asked Cord leaders to give the Head of State time to deal with the insecurity.

“We should all learn to respect the Presidency. We cannot be using burials to castigate President Kenyatta who was very categorical that security is a responsibility of each and every one of us. Politicising burials and abusing the President is totally uncalled for,” said Isiolo North MP Joseph Samal.

Nyaribari Chache MP Richard Tongi said insecurity in the country could not be solved by Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo and Interior Cabinet Secretary Jospeh ole Lenku alone.

“If the two are sacked and they are replaced, then their successors are also replaced we will be having a merry-go-round of sacking officials.

In my opinion, if there are any security threats, let us ask the Provincial Administration in the particular areas as they are responsible for security,” he said.

RELIGIOUS IDEOLOGY
His Wajir North counterpart Ibrahim Saney condemned terrorist attacks in the country, which he said have led to the deaths of innocent Muslims and Christians alike.

He said the militia group had no religious ideology and called on the government to be stricter in dealing with the attackers.

The legislator, however, registered his discontent with those calling for the withdrawal of civil servants from areas that have been hit by a wave of insecurity.

He further called on Kenyans not to allow themselves to be divided along religious lines.

“I respect the Kenya National Union of Teachers as it represents all teachers, but they should give a nationalistic view to this matter. Calling for the withdrawal of employees is tantamount to issuing travel advisories within the country,” said Mr Saney.

WORKING TOGETHER

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and his Kitutu Chache counterpart Jimmy Angwenyi told off political leaders who have been using burials to lash out at the government.

“We must respect President Kenyatta. Those who want to be president can wait until 2017. As Kenyans, we should unite and work together to defeat the enemies,” said Mr Angwenyi.

Other leaders who voiced their concern over Cord’s demands were MPs Rahim Dawood (North Imenti) and Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi.

Interior Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo and his counterparts from the Health and Devolution ministries, Dr Khadija Kasachoon and Mwanamaka Amani Mabruki respectively also attended the event.