Ababu Namwamba defends western MPs' State House visit

President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) with ODM Secretary General Ababu Namwamba when leaders from Western Kenya paid him a courtesy call at State House, Nairobi on June 22, 2015. PHOTO | PSCU 

In Summary

• Mr Namwamba said the people who brought the once giant sugar miller to its knees are known and should be brought to book.
• He said the visit to State House was an answer to the needs of the people.

By PAUL OGEMBA
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ODM Secretary General Ababu Namwamba has defended western MPs visit to State House on Monday, saying the agenda had nothing to do with politics.

Speaking during a morning television breakfast show on Citizen TV on Tuesday, Mr Namwamba said the meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto was to find a way of uplifting economic status of Western Kenya and held revive struggling Mumias Sugar Company.

“The meeting was absolutely not about politics. The agenda was very clear, to find an economic renaissance of Western Kenya. The meeting was not about Cord or Jubilee but about the economic wellbeing of the people,” said Mr Namwamba.

On the troubled Mumias Sugar Company, Mr Namwamba said the people who brought the once giant sugar miller to its knees are known and should be brought to book.

He said the visit to State House was an answer to the needs of the people as it resulted in a Sh1 billion bailout from the government to help revive the company.

JUBILEE MOLE

“It is unfortunate that some people are trivialising a major issue affecting our people. Although we sit on opposite sides, we are mature enough to close ranks when the lives of Kenyans are at risk,” said Mr Namwamba.

The ODM secretary-general dismissed claims that he is a Jubilee mole and said his loyalty to party leader Raila Odinga is beyond reproach.

“Even the President and his deputy know my stand, they know that I want them to taste the Opposition benches in 2017. But for now, I am mature and must respect their positions,” he said.

Mr Namwamba was among MPs under the Western Parliamentary Caucus who met the President and his Deputy at State House where the government agreed to release Sh1 billion to Mumias Sugar Company and promised a revival strategy that will include raising the rights issue to between Sh3 billion and Sh4 billion.