A meeting attended by Cord
principals Raila Odinga and Moses Wetang'ula, senators and MPs came to a
standstill when a person believed to be insane beat Raila and Governor Salim
Mvurya, using a big stick.
Mvurya and Raila were dancing
accompanied by senators Wetang'ula, Juma Boy, James Orengo, Johnstone Muthama,
Agnes Zani, Hassan Omar and MPs Hassan Mwanyoha and Zulekha Hassan, when the
drama started.
The middle-aged man joined
them in the dance but soon pounced on Raila, striking him twice and then
turning to Governor Mvurya, who was also hit twice.
Both Raila and Mvurya's aides were
nowhere to be found when their bosses were being clubbed, until the two were
saved by a county publicity officer, Omar Mwagao, who wrestled the assailant to
the ground.
The publicist snatched the
club as the attacker attempted to hit the governor one more time and as an
astonished Raila looked on.
The man was then escorted away by
the leaders’ aides and handed to police for questioning.
Kinango AP commander Peter
Musyoka said they could not arrest and lock up the man because he was "out
of his mind".
“We cannot arrest a mad
person, because we know him very well,” he told the Star.
When the drama passed and the
meeting resumed, Raila took issue with those urging him to account for Sh15
billion said to have gone missing during the coalition government in which he
was Prime Minister and co-principal alongside the then President Mwai Kibaki.
Raila said he is ready to
appear before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee and respond to any
questions of accountability over the loss of the cash.
“I want several people to
accompany me while I appear, because I want the truth to be known to Kenyans,
among them the former President Kibaki".
Among those Raila also wants to
appear before the parliamentary committee are Njeru Githae, Mutua Kilaka,
Njuguna Ndung’u and Francis Kimemia.
Raila also wants Francis Muthaura,
Katoo ole Metito, Mutea Iringo, Mathew Iteere, David Kimaiyo, President Uhuru
Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto questioned.
“I also want auditor general
Edward Ouko, who discovered the loss of the funds, because I will tell Kenyans
how money was ferried in lorries from the Central Bank,” he said.
He accused the Jubilee leaders of continuing
to misuse and embezzle public funds in the name of harambee to woo citizens.
“Instead of harambee, that
money can be taken to the counties to help citizens in development; that's why
we are pushing for the Okoa Kenya referendum," said Raila.
Raila wondered where Deputy
President Ruto and his friends get the money from to contribute more cash in
harambee than their monthly salaries.
“Kenyans must be told where such
money come from,” he demanded.
He also accused the Jubilee
government of blaming the governors for failure to be accountable and
embezzling public funds, without taking any action.
“We have not seen any governor being
taken to court. These people have no reason to accuse governors because of
their demand for more funds for the counties," he added.
Governor Mvurya said increasing
funds to the counties is very important for development, as well as increased
services.
“We are not saying we want
funds alone, but also functions that we can handle better," he said.
Meanwhile, Lunga Lunga MP
Khatib Mwashetani found himself on the receiving end on his home turf when he
arrived at the Okoa Kenya referendum campaign and youths started heckling him
in Mwangulu.
Mwashetani was allowed to
address residents, although, being an anti-referendum campaigner, when he stood
and started explaining why Kenyans should reject the referendum push the youths
booed him.
He was forced to cut short his
speech after realizing it was landing on deaf ears and left the gathering
disappointed.
As we went to press, the Okoa Kenya
referendum team was heading to Diani for its final rally to urge residents to
append their signatures to the Yes campaign petition.
