ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna. He and other ODM leaders have
cautioned lawyer Miguna Miguna against his continued attacks on Mr Raila
Odinga. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
ODM leaders on Saturday cautioned lawyer Miguna Miguna against his continued attacks on Mr Raila Odinga.
Speaking separately, they said Mr Odinga, the ODM leader, made efforts to save him from deportation.
ACCUSATIONS
The
leaders said that while they sympathise with Dr Miguna over his
tribulations, they would abandon him if he does not respect Mr Odinga.
Dr Miguna on Saturday blamed Mr Odinga for allegedly failing to help him return to Kenya.
In a statement from Dubai, where he was deported to, Dr Miguna accused Mr Odinga of dining with his oppressors.
“Raila Odinga cannot and should not be
enjoying Easter abroad and dining with the tyrants when the person who
swore him in as the people’s president is being murdered by those who
stole his election and who have killed and maimed his supporters,” he
said.
WARNING
ODM
Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, Secretary of Political Affairs Opiyo
Wandayi, MPs Samuel Atandi (Alego/Usonga), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo) and
Homa Bay politician and businessman Hilary Alila condemned Dr Miguna’s
latest claims.
Mr Sifuna said Dr
Miguna’s lawyers were providing pro bono services courtesy of Mr Odinga
in a bid to save him, and questioned why the lawyer was bitter.
“We
have documented all the efforts Jakom (Mr Odinga) has put in to help
Miguna. Mzee has instructed all his lawyers, including myself, to work
on the case at great peril.
“The team led by [Siaya Senator James] Orengo have been on this matter since he was arrested in February,” Mr Sifuna said.
He
added: “We have suffered brutality both from police and State
sympathisers. Our passports have been revoked! Mzee has personally been
coming to court. He was at the airport risking his own safety. I
therefore don’t see how anyone can say that Mzee has abandoned Miguna.”
BOUNDARY
Mr Wandayi said that as much as they sympathise with Miguna, “he must know the boundary.”
“Raila
Odinga as an institution, is a no-go zone for him to spew vitriol. He
and Raila don't play in the same league. As far as we're concerned, the
moment he starts showing open disrespect for Raila, he crosses the red
line,” Mr Wandayi told the Nation.
He
added: “I urge the concerned State officials to facilitate his return
to the country as soon as possible so that he can resume his normal life
without unnecessary drama.”
However, Mr Atandi said Mr Miguna has become an object being used by forces against the prosperity of Kenya.
He said the issue is a scheme set up by Mr Miguna to undermine Mr Odinga's credibility.
“We
have noticed that the political realignment of 2022 is coming into play
and Miguna is being used by NIS agents aligned to forces within Jubilee
Government against unity of purpose between HE Raila Odinga and HE
Uhuru Kenyatta,” the Alego Usonga MP said.
SUPPORT
Dr Miguna, he added, has fallen prey to “those machinations and is now abusing the whole thing.”
He
faulted the lawyer over his claims of swearing in Mr Odinga saying:
“Even his attire did not resemble those worn by judicial officers
administering oaths.
“We are not
going to spare him. If he continues to undermine Raila Odinga we shall
not spare him and shall support his deportation. He has touched a live
wire,” the legislator said.
Dr Ochanda and Mr Alila accused Dr Miguna of being reckless.
“He
is generally a reckless person. Raila would not even have gone to the
airport to see him if he never supported him,” said Dr Ochanda.
LAW
He faulted Dr Miguna for refusing to give his passport to the immigration officials.
“That
is the requirement. You must give your travel documents. Of course he
was worried that his passport could be confiscated but we would have
fought a different war rather than refusing to give it to officials,” Dr
Ochanda said.
Mr Alila said Dr Miguna must follow the law and not expect it to be bent in his favour.
“We
realise there are deliberate attempts by Miguna to water down the gains
of the new working relationship between Raila Odinga and President
Kenyatta and Miguna must style up for the sake of the country,” Mr Alila
said.
He accused Dr Miguna of having ill motives in his latest attack on Mr Odinga.
“We
have seen all efforts by Mr Odinga to save Miguna and even braving the
heavily armed security authorities at the airport to try and secure
Miguna’s release was a clear indication the former Prime Minister was
committed to protect him,” said Mr Alila.
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