Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has alleged that Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga received a hostile welcome during the recent joint Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting between ODM and the United Democratic Alliance Party (UDA).
While clarifying that his Kenya Moja faction is not composed of ODM rebels, Owino blamed the MPs who attended the PG meeting for being rebels, since they booed the party leader.
Speaking on Friday, August 29, the MP, who was conspicuously absent from the PG meeting held on August 18, maintained that the Kenya Moja team was acting within the democratic precincts of the ODM party.
"We are working within the dictates and principles of the ODM party; those who are rebels are the ones who went to boo Baba the other day when they called for a joint PG meeting. Why did ODM MPs decide to boo Baba? Ain't that rebellion?" the MP asked.
"Ain't that lack of loyalty? That is disloyalty. For those of us who didn't go, we knew what was going to happen, so we didn't want to be part of the people who were planning to boo Baba," Owino continued.
Babu Owino, a staunch ODM member, and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, ODM’s Secretary General, were among the party’s key leaders absent from the PG meeting, which was attended by President William Ruto.
Also present was Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at the meeting, which was expected to foster unity between the two parties that have been working together since the signing of the MoU Agreement.
The meeting, however, took an unexpected turn after Ruto used the opportunity to lecture MPs and Senators over alleged graft in both houses.
Speaking on the Kenya Moja movement, Babu Owino revealed that 70 MPs have already joined, intending to develop it into a key movement intended to bring change to the nation.
"We are the only force, not the third force; we are second to none. We are the only force with the intention to passionately champion the interests of Kenyans. We may not have a political party, but we have a following; the people are on our side," Babu alleged.
According to the MP, plans are underway to recruit more MPs to the movement, with Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro reportedly expected to join soon.
‘’We are still talking and making decisions as members of Kenya moja. In time, we will know the candidate to support; the candidate must be pro-people. I’ve been speaking to Ndindi Nyoro, he will soon be part of this movement,’’ the MP said.
