Azimio party leader Raila Odinga is facing significant pressure to take action against US Ambassador Meg Whitman, who he accused of meddling in Kenya’s affairs.
Homa Bay Town MP George Kaluma became the latest politician to add his voice to the clamour, urging Raila to call for demonstrations against Whitman.
The US Ambassador had urged Raila to recognise President William Ruto's government, arguing that the 2022 General Election was conducted free and fair, contrary to the opposition chief's belief.
In a social media post on Sunday, August 20, Kaluma also faulted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who trolled Raila for threatening to call for the withdrawal of Whitman, who was posted to Kenya in July 2022, a few days before the August election.
The DP mocked the former Prime Minister as a powerless leader who couldn't even recall a chief in his backyard.
"Gachagua must respect chiefs! Baba (Raila) should call for maandamano against the US Ambassador," Kaluma, an opposition lawmaker, stated.
The sentiments from Kaluma came a day after Azimio Principal Eugene Wamalwa remarked that Whitman should be recalled, remarks which pro-government allies claimed were aimed at tainting the nation's reputation, diplomatic interactions and standing.
Wamalwa added that Whitman ought to have travelled back to the US on Friday, August 19, alongside Delaware Senator Chris Coons, famous for orchestrating the March 2018 handshake between Raila and former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Coons, who visited Kenya to negotiate a truce between Raila and President William Ruto, declined to be dragged into the Whitman row, despite being caught in the crossfire.
"We know that the Senator is in town, and he is also US President Joe Biden's senator. If it were our wish, we would have sent him back with Meg, but we are sending him with the message that we are not happy with the ambassador," Wamalwa stated.
With the attacks on Whitman threatening to impact Ruto's relations with the US, who have backed him since winning the election, his allies condemned the opposition with the aim of neutralising what they argued was a witchhunt.
Speaking in Kisii on Sunday, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah remarked that Whitman stated the obvious and should not be castigated.
“There is nothing neo-colonialist with an ambassador speaking on issues of the host country,” Ichung’wah remarked, adding that Whitman was speaking on behalf of the American investors she represents.
"The US Ambassador cannot and must not view Kenya with the ethnic lenses Raila Odinga is giving her. She has to look at Kenya through the lens of growing democracy in a global village where the rule of law and order, as well as constitutionalism, are the norm. Not a world of chaos, anarchy and blackmail are the tools of the trade to negotiate for selfish individual packs using ethnic blocks," Ichung'wah added in a tweet.
With Ruto seeking to strike a balance between addressing legitimate concerns raised by the opposition in the bipartisan talks that prompted Senator Coons to visit Kenya and avoiding unnecessary escalation, it is yet to be clear how Ichung'wah's remarks will affect his progress.
The Majority Leader, who also serves as Kikuyu MP, was selected to lead pro-government allies in the bipartisan talks with Raila's representatives led by Wiper leader and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.
It is also yet to be clear whether the Whitman row may drag into the negotiations that commenced on Monday, August 7.
Nonetheless, more Ruto confidants claimed that Raila was using his onslaught against the US ambassador to build his profile for a sixth stab at the presidency.
Commenting on the issue, former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Chairman Johnstone Muthama on Saturday asked Raila to shelve his ambitions permanently.
“Raila Odinga you will never be President and by the way, in all fairness, you should be treated like Donald Trump,” Muthama stated, seemingly calling for the indictment of the former Prime Minister.
In the US, the country's 45th President, Donald Trump, was arrested and is facing sweeping racketeering charges stemming from alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Nonetheless, Raila has largely remained silent after threatening to call for the withdrawal of Whitman and instead let his lieutenants flex their muscles. The former PM flew to the United Kingdom on Saturday for a weeklong rest.
The White House has also yet to comment on the opposition's demands.
