The relationship between Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his former advisor on coalition affairs Miguna Miguna deteriorated further on Saturday amid claims of betrayal and deceit.
Mr Miguna called a press conference at his residence in the upmarket Runda neighbourhood. He announced that he had declined Mr Odinga’s offer to reinstate him, citing a breach of an agreement he had entered with the PM at a meeting at the Serena hotel on Tuesday afternoon.
“The statement that was released by one Caroli Omondi on behalf of the Prime Minister on December 28, 2011 – twenty four hours after our agreement – did not accurately reflect and adhere to the terms of our agreement,” Mr Miguna said.
“But even more egregiously, when I received a letter from the office of the Prime Minister, signed by a junior officer on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, at 5.30 pm on December 28, 2011 but which was dated December 27, 2011, the form, content and tone was totally at variance with the agreement the Prime Minister and I had entered into in good faith. Furthermore, the letter was also inconsistent. It contradicted the press statement released by Mr Omondi,” he added.
“In view of the foregoing, I hereby announce that by a letter dated today’s date and delivered to the Prime Minister already, I have declined to accept the decision to reinstate me. This decision was based on the terms and conditions contained in the letter by one Abdul Mwasera, dated December 27, 2011,” he concluded.
Mr Miguna’s decision either accepting or rejecting his reinstatement had been eagerly awaited given his recent attacks on the PM.
He revealed that he had held a three-hour meeting with the PM on Tuesday in the company of a “mutual friend” to iron out their differences.
It was the PM who called him requesting for the meeting, he disclosed.
“We had a courteous, respectful, dignified, cordial, and professional meeting. When it concluded, we – the two of us alone – unanimously agreed, in good faith, that the Prime Minister would make the following announcement that day. Either personally or through his office, before he travelled to India,” Mr Miguna said.
The terms of the agreement, according to Mr Miguna, included his unconditional and immediate reinstatement and the lifting of his suspension.
He would also be paid all his arrears, emoluments, and accrued interest owed to him. Upon his reinstatement, he would report directly to the PM.
But according to the Chief of Staff at the PM’s office, Mr Caroli Omondi, Mr Miguna was to withdraw all pending cases he had lodged in court. Furthermore, he would have to sign a new contract.
“How can you work for the same government you have taken to court? He was supposed to withdraw those cases,” Mr Omondi said.
“He was to sign a new contract with Mr Mwasera because the government cannot pay if you don’t have a written contract with it. His previous contract had expired. If he doesn’t want to sign a new contract, there is nothing we can do,” Mr Omondi added.
“The PM wanted to offer Miguna a soft landing in the spirit of this festive season. This was given that he had lost his case in court and was also complaining that he has nothing to do,” Mr Omondi revealed.
Source- http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/Miguna+declines+job+recall/-/1064/1297968/-/xg6v1m/-/index.html
Video: Miguna declined Mr Odinga’s offer to reinstate him
