Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislators on Saturday made an urgent plea to President Uhuru Kenyatta to act on his lieutenants who were against his unity deal with Raila Odinga.
During a meeting in Migori on Saturday, Mathare MP Antony Oluoch stated that since National Super Alliance (NASA) had managed to whip their members to support the duo and so should Uhuru with his camp.
"During Matiba’s funeral, the head of state spoke of dissenting voices in his yard. We call on him to crack the whip and make us move forward in unity as a country," he stated.
Echoing the sentiments, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala called on Deputy President William Ruto to support the call for a referendum.
[caption caption="Uriri MP Mark Nyamita (L) and Saboti MP Caleb Amisi"]
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"As opposition, we are heading to the 2022 election knowing that we will not allow only two communities, Kikuyu and Kalenjin, to continue ruling the country as they have done since independence.
"We may not talk of 2022 but since independence, only two communities have changed leadership batons in Kenya. We will not allow that when the election comes," he conveyed.
Similarly, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna castigated DP Ruto for putting his 2022 presidential ambitions ahead of a referendum aimed at uniting Kenyans.
"It is sad that Ruto has complained that calls for the referendum are noise to him. We would like to tell him that the calls are not made from his office or bedroom," Sifuna added.
Supporting his statement, Uriri MP Mark Nyamita stated: "The deputy president is very cagey to a point of not acting as the second in command in Kenya. We only want a referendum to end tribalism and favouritism in the country."
During Matiba's Funeral service in Murang'a President Kenyatta state that some Kenyans were not happy with his recent “handshake” of unity with Mr Odinga because: "they thrive on chaos and commotion but unity is a key prerequisite for the country’s progress."
He said the new-found unity with Mr Odinga that started with the historic “handshake” had nothing to do with succession politics of 2022.
[caption caption="Leaders at Matiba's funeral service in Murang'a"]
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The President urged leaders to learn the art of sorting problems without insults, hate or shedding blood.
He said the sacrifices made by the heroes of the second liberation -- time, energy and resources -- were enough, and political leaders should now stop fighting.
