ODM accuses Jubilee of poaching its members

With five weeks to the Malindi Parliamentary by-elections, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is now calling on its members to ignore the Jubilee administration that has been wooing them to ditch the opposition for the ruling coalition.

Kilifi Governor Amason Jeffa Kingi sent a warning to ODM members from his county leaning to Jubilee that they risk expulsion from the party if they do not declare their stand.

Kingi termed such politicians as exhibiting immature politics and disrespectful to the will of the people of Kilifi who elected them on ODM party tickets.

He said that such leaders have failed in their main duty to represent the electorate and deliver of their campaign promises.

The Kilifi Governor further called on the Jubilee Coalition to stop politicizing the appointment of former Malindi MP Dan Kazungu as the Mining Cabinet Secretary saying that it was not a favour or a gift to the people of Kilifi.

Kazungu was among the seven Cabinet Secretaries appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta late December upon Parliament’s approval.

The former MP made it to the Cabinet after President Kenyatta nominated him as the CS for Mining effectively replacing Najib Balala who was moved to the Ministry of Tourism in the same capacity.

His sentiments were echoed by Mombasa Women Representative Mishi Mboko Juma who accused Jubilee of frustrating devolution by passing legislations that cap the mandates of the counties and apparent refusal to allocate enough resources to the counties.

She further accused the Jubilee administration of neglecting the Coastal region saying that it (Jubilee) has failed to allocate enough resources to them despite paying taxes like other Kenyans.

Their sentiments come just a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta concluded his four-week long tour of the coast region.

Last week, ODM nomination exercise for the Malindi Parliamentary by-election was marred by chaos after party electoral officials declined to release the results following claims by candidates that the exercise was characterised by irregularities.

The tallying exercise ended in disarray at Tadhibu Muslim Academy in Malindi after Kakuyuni MCA Nixon Mramba alleged that some ballot papers had been stolen by people who had reportedly been ferried to the centre.

However, the party later announced that William Baraka Mtengo would be its flag bearer in the by-elections despite opposition from other contenders.

The by-elections are set for March 7th, 2016.