President William Ruto has advised Kenya Kwanza lawmakers not to be tempted in joining the opposition.
Ruto, said as much as the government of the day may not be doing things as required, he warned the legislators against attacking their own government.
Speaking during a Parliamentary Group meeting on Monday, December 5, Ruto asked the leaders to stick to their roles and leave the opposition with its roles.
He said that with the opposition attacking him, they should remember that they are also being attacked.
“Sometimes it’s easier to criticize the government but you must remind yourself always that the government that is being criticized is yours. The opposition will be doing their bit. Please do yours,” the president said.
Ruto’s plea to his allies comes at a time when the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party presidential candidate Raila Odinga has organized nationwide consultation meetings with his supporters.
Raila said the meetings are expected to officially commence on Wednesday, December 7, at the Kamkunji Grounds in Nairobi.
Among the issues the opposition plans to discuss with members of the public in their watchdog duties include the high cost of living, importation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) maize, and suspension of four besieged IEBC commissioners.
Last month, a section of elected leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza alliance seriously opposed the move by Trade and Investment Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria to import 10 million bags of maize to arrest the skyrocketing cost of living.
The leaders who were by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said importing the grain at the time farmers were harvesting was ill-timed.
He said farmers from maize-growing regions will lack a market for their products should the government go ahead to import duty-free maize.
“The importation of duty-free maize is not fair to us maize farmers because of its wrong timing,
“In the Rift Valley we are currently harvesting maize now it shall lower prices of maize. We shall tomorrow meet MPs of maize growing areas to develop a sustainable solution on the matter,” Cherargei said.
