Former Speaker Kenneth Marende's Private Meeting with Raila Raises Questions

The allegiance of a senior government official appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta has been questioned after the public servant held a private meeting with ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Kenya Power Board Chairman Kenneth Marende on Monday paid a courtesy call to Odinga at his Opoda farm in Bondo.

The meeting has led to speculation that the former National Assembly speaker may ditch the Jubilee side and work with Odinga and his NASA team.

There are also unconfirmed reports that Marende will be resigning from the board of Kenya Power to allow him run for a political position.

As per the law, public servants who seek elective posts must have resigned six months ahead of the General Election which means the former speaker has until February 8 to make up his mind.

Marende, who has hinted at seeking the Nairobi gubernatorial seat, downplayed his meeting with the ODM leader but promised to clarify his political stand on Tuesday.

“I’m a very solid person, with immense gravitas. I’ll be giving my statements on where I stand politically tomorrow [Tuesday],” he stated.

Despite working with Odinga prior to 2013, Marende has in the past two years accused the former Prime Minister of failing the Luhya community and urged them to support the Jubilee government.