Seven rebel Orange Democratic Movement lawmakers, on March 17, vowed not to attend mass action protests slated for Monday, March 20.
The ODM MPs who spoke at Parliament Buildings included Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Paul Abuor (Rongo), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Phelix ‘Jalang’o’ Odiwuor (Lang’ata) and Senator Tom Ojienda (Kisumu).
"We firmly believe that Kenya's current economic challenges will not be resolved by political confrontation and other forms of political partisanship.
“It is time to have a National Economic Dialogue to find solutions to our collective economic challenges. Let our political competition be at the level of competing economic ideas," their joint statement, read by Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, stated.
The parliamentarians, who defected to the government, also spoke against political brinkmanship that has heightened the political temperatures in the country.
They insisted that protests would not solve economic hardships. In a disapproving tone, they urged their supporters not to attend the mass action protests scheduled for Monday, March 20.
"We equally urge our constituents to do likewise. Let our political competition be at the level of competing economic ideas," they noted.
Furthermore, they noted that issue-based politics should guide the national political arena. Different sides of the politically divided should thus debate ideas.
They, however, recognised the right to protest and urged Azimio to hold peaceful demonstrations.
"We appreciate that such actions are essential to advancing our democracy. It is our firm belief that such demonstrations must be peaceful and orderly, and not injure the rights and property of others,
"We encourage those who will join the demonstrations to return to their normal economic and social activities as soon as possible, especially those who engage in farming, to take advantage of the current rains to plough and plant." they asserted.
