PNU accused of creating rift between Principals

Four ODM legislators have accused key PNU opponents of trying to create a rift between President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The Minister for Lands, James Orengo and MPs Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem), Edwin Yinda (Alego) and Cyprian Omollo (Uriri) took issue with their colleagues from PNU whom they accused of frustrating the cordial relationship between the two Principals who, they noted, have been working well since the formation of the coalition government.

The legislators who were speaking at Madungu in Sigomere division, Ugenya, during the burial of the late Dr. Joseph Okanga told their opponents working under the auspices of the G7 alliance to stop waging personal attacks on the Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Orengo said that the PNU leaders have been misinterpreting statements that the prime minister made in court, taking them out of context that he cast aspersion on the person of the president.

He defended Raila’s cordial relationship with Kibaki, saying that long before the PNU activists who masquerade as "Kibaki hawks" joined him, Raila was already a supporter of Kibaki.

"In 2002, I did not support Kibaki but Raila said Kibaki Tosha. Most of these people were not supportive of Kibaki and were part of the project that was bent on barring him from becoming the third president," said Orengo.

Mr. Orengo said Kenyans should judge their leaders by their records, not what they say, adding that Raila’s record spoke volumes and cannot not be compared to those hurl abuse at him.

He lamented that Raila’s opponents have of late formed a habit of making a personal attack on the premier and challenged them to be nationalistic and shun trivial issues.

"Let them tell Kenyans their agenda, not attacking the premier at any opportunity," he said.

Midiwo said the relationship between Kibaki and Raila has been cordial since the formation of the coalition government, but PNU leaders were not happy because of vested interests.