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| Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka |
In an interview on Daybreak, Senator Onyonka termed the recent press briefings from the Azimio meetings as a “waste of time” at a time when he alleged that ODM joined government.
He appealed to Kalonzo and Wamalwa to chart their own path amid Raila Odinga agreeing to work with President William Ruto to form the broad-based government. “My honest feeling is that these statements about the issues is a waste of time. The horse has bolted. ODM has joined government. I don’t see why Kalonzo or Wamalwa still hold meetings,” he said.
“I feel so frustrated because what is it that they are asking for and some of these political marriages you can’t force them. It has reached a stage that the party leader is going his way. I think it’s time the other gentlemen need to figure out where to go.”
Responding to queries on whether Azimio would play its oversight role as opposition, Onyonka reaffirmed that he would hold the government to account, regardless of the political allegiance.
“I don’t see why people want to split the configuration. ODM is in government. I’m finding it difficult as an oversight officer to see what to do with the government. I will oversight Mbadi, I will talk about what he does if he’s wrong and I will congratulate him if he does what is right.”His remarks amid speculations of sharp divisions in Azimio over the broad-based government formation.
A section of Azimio leaders have insisted on ODM splitting from Azimio and joining government, questioning Raila’s commitment to the opposition.
ODM leaders have, however, defended their party leader, saying they will not anyone to arm-twist Raila into endorsing them for Azimio leadership.
We will not accept any continued attempts to use Raila Odinga as a human shield, any continued attempt to arm-twist him into endorsing anybody at this stage, or any continued attempt to use him as an excuse for the failure of leadership in individual constituent parties of Azimio,” ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga said on Monday, August 19.
By Brian Kimani