Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday, April 3, demanded the resignation of State officers appointed to run United Democratic Alliance (UDA) elections.
In a press briefing held in Nairobi, the party leader questioned why public officers would be appointed to engage in party politics at a time when they should be serving Kenyans.
Raila's statement read out by party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna warned that the country runs the risk of reverting to the dark days of the ruling party operating with reckless abandon and against the country's best interests.
The party particularly expressed its objection to State officers playing a pre-eminent role in national politics.
"We are staring at the return of the Party-State system last seen in the 1980s where party leaders and public servants were the same thing. What followed was a youth wing with watchdog or surveillance responsibilities over the entire nation," the statement read in part.
"We take the position that this development is wrong. It is a recipe for chaos and dictatorship and partisanship in the management of public affairs. Consequently, we demand that all those people who have been named as UDA officials must immediately resign from public service. There is no way they will serve two masters, the public and the party.
Additionally, Raila called for the resignation of officers within the Ministry of Agriculture for the fake fertiliser scandal that has put the country's economy in jeopardy.
"We therefore reiterate that heads must roll. Officers at the Ministry of Agriculture, NCPB who have direct responsibility for fertiliser, seeds and certification must immediately quit their positions and pave way for proper investigations.
"Those found guilty must be charged with sabotage and organised criminal activity."
The party further claimed UDA played a key role in sponsoring petitions to derail the implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report
"The meeting further noted with concern what appears to be coordinated attempts to derail the implementation of the NADCO report. It is becoming apparent that some if not all of these court cases are state-sponsored," Sifuna remarked.
"If indeed elements in the regime are having second thoughts regarding proposals they signed onto of their own volition, they should come out clearly to say so instead of sponsoring these cases."
