NAIROBI Senator Mike Sonko has claimed some Cord politicians stage-managed last week’s caning of their leader Raila Odinga and Governor Salim Mvurya in Kwale.
The flamboyant politician, who condemned the incident, said Jubilee has tangible information linking Cord to masterminding Raila’s whipping at a referendum rally in Kinango.
“We have information that Cord politicians planned the caning of Raila so that they would paint Jubilee in a bad light. Let them come clean on that matter and say who is the Senator they are referring to,” Sonko told the Star on the phone yesterday.
He admitted that he was within Kwale County on the day the ugly incident happened, but dismissed suggestions that he could have facilitated Raila’s attacker, Lengo Mudzomba.
“We were attending to developmental matters to fundraise for the Muslim Leaders’ Association at Waa in Kwale County and later proceeded to Ziwani to console the Mwasera family that had lost four members,” Sonko said.
On Saturday, without mentioning names, Raila’s former aide Eliud Owalo alleged that the Cord leader’s attacker was paid Sh30,000 by a flamboyant Jubilee senator.
Raila and Mvurya have said they will not press assault changes against Mudzomba, but want him to reveal his masters. Raila has termed his whipping as unfortunate and testimony of how security has plummeted to its lowest ebb.
He says the Okoa Kenya referendum would give Kenyans a chance to correct the anomalies which he blames on a political cartel led by senior Jubilee leaders who are fighting devolution.
“Great people like the late Odhiambo Mbai made sure that the desire for devolution succeeded, but he never lived to see its fruits as he was killed by those opposed to this course,” said Raila.
“Kenyans had no option but to call for a referendum, which the constitution gives them powers to use to right their problems,” Raila said. He was speaking at Agen’ga village in Nyatike constituency, Migori County, during the burial of Mzee Nelson Onyango, the father of Dennis Onyango, the Director of Communication in his office.
The Cord leader said only the referendum would realise more funds to the counties to carry out substantial development. Raila promised that ODM nominations for the 2017 elections would be free and fair as he admitted that the 2013 preliminaries were bungled.
He was accompanied by area Governor Okoth Obado, who urged Kenyans to respect their leaders, citing the Kwale incident against Raila and Migori’s against President Uhuru Kenyatta as unfortunate. He urged Raila to ensure that democracy prevailed in ODM and members were allowed a level play field.
– the-star.co.ke
