A section of Jubilee Members of Parliament (MPs) has threatened to support National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga in the repeat presidential elections unless President Uhuru Kenyatta fulfils some demands.
The MPs from West Pokot and Baringo counties now want the Jubilee government to suspend the ongoing military operation in the volatile region and release all suspected bandits.
In a meeting held at Tangulbei, Baringo County, Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto indicated that residents in the area had been subjected to untold suffering in the hands of security officers undertaking the operation.
The same was reiterated by Tiaty MP, William Kamket, who declared that residents would vote for Odinga if the demands are not adhered to.
“The people of Tiaty will vote for the Opposition just as they did in the August elections since they were neglected and sidelined by the Government. However, they are ready to vote for Jubilee on condition that the Government halts the operation and orders the removal of all armoured vehicles in the region,” the Tiaty MP noted.
The Jubilee legislators also demanded the release all the youth who were arrested during the operation to allow them to vote.
The parliamentarians asked the security officers carrying out the operations in the region to be investigated and those found culpable prosecuted.
Another demand issued by the lawmakers is that all the residents should receive compensation from the government for deaths and livestock loss during the operations.
The MPs affirmed that the West Pokot community was still undivided on who to support between the National Super Alliance (NASA) and Jubilee.
Other MPs present at the meeting included David Pkosing (Pokot South) Peter Lochakapong (Sigor) and Mark Lomonokol (Kacheliba)
West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio also reiterated the MPs' remarks accusing the government of not specifying the period which the operation would take.
Baringo Woman Representative Gladwell Cheruiyot and her West Pokot counterpart Lilian Chepchokai also backed the move by the legislators.
