The Leader of the Majority in the National Assembly, Kimani Ichung'wah, on Thursday, March 30, called for the arrest of Azimio leader Raila Odinga for leading protests that he termed destructive.
Ichung'wah, vehemently defended by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from attacks by Azimio, argued that nothing would happen if Odinga were arrested.
He argued that top Azimio leaders, including their parliamentary leaders Opiyo Wandayi and Stewart Madzayo, had also been arrested.
The lawmaker added the country could no longer be held hostage by blackmail from Odinga.
"If one allows blackmail to continue, it never stops. I know there is widespread fear that if he is arrested, then the temperatures will rise [censored], making it ungovernable.
"I want to tell you, without fear of contradiction, that nothing will happen to Kenya if Odinga is arrested,” Ichung’wah told The Standard.
The Kikuyu Member of Parliament (MP) called on Odinga, and leaders elected under the Azimio party ticket needed to follow the constitutional procedure to address their issues.
He maintained that the dialogue must not be exclusively between President William Ruto and Odinga as such a move would not address the exclusion concerns of those not in government.
“Let Odinga ask his MPs and senators to document and bring their grievances to Parliament. Negotiations between Ruto and Odinga only serve the interests of two people,” Ichung'wah reiterated.
He argued that the 160 MPs and 20 senators elected on Azimio tickets would effectively represent the interests of more Kenyans in Parliament.
On March 29, Gachagua defended Ichung'wah from accusations that he instigated the invasion of the Northlands farm belonging to the Kenyatta family.
He declared that no one should go after the MP and that he would be ready to answer any questions if anyone felt aggrieved by anything.
Ichungw'ah distanced him from the raid but indicated that he would assist the police with investigations if needed.
"The police can access my phone to establish who I spoke to, if I did any mobilisation, or which places I visited on or before Monday, March 27. I’m ready to have an investigations file opened against me," the National Assembly majority leader explained.
