A top Member of Parliament (MP) from the Coast region has weighed in on the ongoing hue and cry that emerged after the government outrightly snubbed Opposition chief Raila Odinga during the Madaraka Day celebrations in Nyeri County on Thursday.
In an article published in a local newspaper, Mvita Member of Parliament (MP) Abdulswamad Nassir has revealed that the Jubilee administration led by President Uhuru Kenyatta is in a desperate attempt to hide the fact that "Kenyans are suffering because of corruption, poverty, unemployment and a dishonest Jubilee government."
The Mvita MP revealed that to ensure the public does not get to know the truth, the Jubilee administration has resorted to harassing and intimidating leaders with divergent views and denying them a chance to speak at national events.
He cited two occasions when Mombasa governor Hassan Joho was harassed and blocked from attending public events in Mombasa and yesterday's incident where Odinga was denied a chance to address the public, causing public outrage.
"They work with people who can’t speak the truth. President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto will visit only Governors who are friendly, the ones who are playing to be good boys and are in their favour," Nassir noted.
The MP stated that unfortunately, President Kenyatta and his deputy "are hiding what is already in public domain".
He blasted the organisers of the event for conducting part of the event in mother-tongue yet it was a national event.
The legislator took the chance to remind Kenyans that "the country belongs to all Kenyans and the government should listen to and work with everyone."
Meanwhile, in response to what transpired in Nyeri, Odinga stated: "I received an invitation to attend the national day celebrations and I honored it. It was their responsibility to recognize me, I leave it to the people to judge the way they (government) handled the issue. I don’t want to appear to be complaining.
“Hiyo ni shauri yao (It is up to them). The problem is theirs. This was not supposed to be a Jubilee affair. Honestly, I would have done it differently,” Raila stated.
Read More: Raila's Message to Uhuru After Shaming Him at Madaraka Day Celebrations in Nyeri
