Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Chairman John Mbadi on Saturday dismissed claims by a section of church leaders who alleged that the party is to be faulted for poverty in Nyanza region.
The Suna East MP noted that it was wrong for the clergy to heap blame on the party leadership, asserting that development challenges faced the region long before the formation of the party.
Mbadi described the accusations by the clerics as outrageous adding that the party was doing a lot to improve the welfare of its people.
[caption caption="File image of Suna East MP John Mbadi"]
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Kisumu County ODM coordinator and former Assistant Minister Prof Ayiecho Olweny further defended the party stating that over the years they have battled for a fair share of the 'national cake.'
"ODM has been around for less than ten years. You can’t blame it...yet the slow pace development is hinged on funding by the ruling elites,'' he claimed.
Homa Bay Women Representative Gladys Wanga also condemned the accusations by the church leaders.
"If the Church has specific leaders they want to label, let them go ahead and name them, instead of lumping everybody together. I have done a lot for my people to see and cite,'' she declared.
Four Anglican Church Bishops: Mwai Abiero, James Ochiel, Joshua Owiti and David Kodia on Friday condemned local leaders of doing little to improve the economy of the region and were instead over-concentrating on political contests.
“We want to restate that the ACK is committed to the philosophy of development based on practical entrepreneurial engagements to change lives,” noted Abiero.
They added that despite billions of shillings allocated to the counties, there was still little to show for it.
[caption caption="File image of Homa Bay Women Rep Gladys Wanga"]
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