Odinga accuses Kenyatta of inaction during Sonko, Joho clash

CORD leader Raila Odinga has accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of inaction during a public scuffle between Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho.

Speaking during the official opening of Fidel Odinga Road in honour of his late first born son, who passed away in January last year.

Odinga accused President Kenyatta of complacency in taming “misbehavior” among Jubilee legislator saying Senator Sonko’s behavior was unwarranted.

“It was wrong for Sonko to abuse Governor Joho in front of the president who just watched without taking action,” lamented Odinga.

He also stated that the electrification project launched by President Kenyatta had not been undertaken by the government but county government in collaboration with the World Bank.

Sonko and Joho engaged into a bitter exchange after the Governor accused President Kenyatta of visiting Mombasa without notifying him.

“It was not fair that you have been in Mombasa for 16 days without my knowledge, even if I am from the opposition. I have heard about his movement in the county from the media,” complained Joho.

When he rose to speak, Senator Sonko rubbished Joho’s utterances accusing CORD of blackmailing the government.

He said opposition legislators should respect President Kenyatta and desist from insulting him in their public rallies.

“Every time the president comes to Mombasa, he also invites you to his functions. You should ask yourself why you were left out this time round,” he questioned.

“It is because the opposition has been on a campaign to blackmail the president instead of letting him serve Kenyans.”

The criticism comes just a week after Odinga hit out at President Kenyatta for extending his stay in the coast region with the hope of gaining ground in the supposed CORD stronghold.

Odinga said that President Kenyatta’s extended one-month stay at the coast would have no political implications saying CORD would clinch the Malindi parliamentary seat.

CORD and Jubilee are set for a showdown during the Malindi by-elections after the parliamentary seat was let vacant after the appointment of Dan Kazungu into Cabinet as the Mining Cabinet Secretary.

Despite several candidates expressing interest in the seat, the main battle will be between ODM’s Willy Mtengo and Jubilee’s Phillip Charo.

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, Omar Mwinyi (Changamwe), Rashid Bedzimba (Kisauni), Mombasa Women Representative Mish Mboko and her Kilifi counterpart Aisha Juma were among CORD legislators who were present.

CORD ‘rebel’ legislators including Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro, Masoud Mwahima (Likoni), Mustaff Idd (Kilifi South) and Khatib Abdala Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga) skipped the function.

By @benjaminwafula