Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba on Saturday ruled out severing his ties with ODM and its party leader Raila Odinga.
“Some people are moving around day and night to see that Ababu and Raila don’t walk together. They will wait until Kingdom comes for their ill-schemes to be realized.
“I respect my Party leader Raila Amolo Odinga and I know he respects me. Let those peddling the rumours do their business elsewhere. We are firm in the party,” he said.
Ababu and Raila told off critics who are to trying to create imaginary division between them saying that they are doomed to fail.
Speaking during the burial of former Minister Fred Gumo’s mother, Marita Gumo, 84 in Budalang’i, the two said they talk often with no bad blood between them. Ababu said he will ensure ODM is rejuvenated and Raila takes the leadership of Kenya in 2017.
” I have received a phone call that President Uhuru Kenyatta is visiting Budalangi on Sunday. Even if he comes we are not second class citizens. What we want to hear from him is when Sigiri Bridge will be built so as to end tragedies on the lake,” he said.
Raila and Ababu later shared a podium where they shook hands to signify the solid relationship between them contrary to critics who had opted Ababu would quit the party for Jubilee.
Raila regretted that Sigiri Bridge which he had sanctioned when he was roads minister and later when he was the Prime Minister had not been built.
“The Bridge had already been designed during my tenure in the government .These empty rhetoric have made us push for Okoa Kenya initiative to have a referendum to increase funding to the grassroots,” said Raila.
Those in attendance included Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, Senator James Orengo, Funyula MP Paul Otuoma, Michael Onyura(Butula), Suna East, Vihiga and Mumias West MPs and Busia and Kakamega Women representatives Florence Mutua and Rachel Ameso.
The leaders vowed to support Okoa Kenya move for a referendum saying nothing can stop their resolve.
Governor Ojaamong said the push for a referendum to bring more resources to grassroots is unstoppable.
Orengo said he will accompany Raila to all corners of the country to ensure referendum succeeds and the funding to counties is increased to 45 per cent.
- the-star.co.ke
