ODM alleges plan to arrest, prosecute Governor Oparanya

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has alleged a plot by the government to arrest Kakamega Governor, Wycliffe Oparanya, in connection to the chaos that marred Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula’s presidential bid early this year.

In a statement signed by the Director of Communications, Philip Etale, ODM said that Oparanya’s Chief of Staff, Nabii Nabiswa, who was previously arrested and arraigned over the chaos that rocked the Ford Kenya presidential launch in March, is also being targeted in what they have termed as a scheme to disorient the party’s campaigns ahead of the 2017 General Election.

“We are disturbed with Jubilee government’s unorthodox means to try and slow down our pace by arresting and arraigning in court of party members and officials on tramped up charges,” read the statement in part.

“We are particularly concerned with the misuse of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ office by the government and or politicians for selfish interests. The DPP’s office is and must remain impartial and independent as stipulated in Article 157 of the Constitution of Kenya.”

The party stated that the government would not succeed in intimidating their members saying they would soldier on to consolidate their support ahead of the next polls.

“Neither ODM party leader, Raila Odinga, his Deputy Oparanya nor Mr Nabii attended the rally. The question is, have the police investigated the incident to find out who threw the teargas at the podium and where the said person obtained it from if he/she was not a law enforcement officer?”

ODM further claims that the government’s plan shows bias and incompetence on the part of law enforcement agencies calling on the DPP to desist from using the police to harass its members.

The incident which threatened the stability of the coalition was widely condemned by ODM leader, Raila Odinga, and his coalition co-principals, Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Wetangula (Ford Kenya).

Just before Wetangula addressed the rally, chaos erupted with youth donning ODM t-shirts trying to disrupt the function.

During the fracas, a teargas canister was lobbed at the dais forcing party officials to scamper for safety, as police officers present watched from distance.

Ford Kenya officials including Kakamega Senator, Bonny Khalwale, linked Oparanya to the chaos saying it was his bid to stop him (Khalwale) from drumming support for his governorship bid.

Khalwale said, the Kakamega Governor, was concerned he would use the platform to launch his bid, hence his alleged attempts to disrupt the meeting.

Ford Kenya officials had also accused Raila of snubbing the event despite having confirmed that he would attend.

In response, ODM had stated that the party leader could not attend the event due to security concerns though Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, a partner in CORD, saying the coalition leader’s had to skip the event since it collided with his planned meeting with Tanzania’s president John Pombe Magufuli at their home in Kilimani Village in Geita Province.

In a bid to stem the discontent, CORD through the CEO Norman Magaya blamed Jubilee for the chaos saying the coalition would remain united despite the incident.

The then ODM Secretary General and Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba had called for the prosecution of those behind the chaos which left two people seriously injured.