The sacking of Richard Echesa from the sports docket has taken a new twist after a number of MPs allied to DP William Ruto claimed it was witch hunt.
According to the Majority Chief Whip in the National Assembly Benjamin Washiali, the ouster of Echesa is a calculated plan to stop Ruto from clinching the top- most position in 2022.
, the ouster of Echesa is a calculated plan to stop Ruto from clinching the top- most position in 2022.
“The sacking of Mr Echesa is not about the fight against corruption by President Kenyatta but a plot targeting Mr Ruto’s 2022 presidential ambitions,” said Mr Washiali.
He claimed that people who opposed the Jubilee government had turned out to be the biggest beneficiaries of the government largesse.
Mr Washiali dared the President and Mr Odinga to take away his Chief Whip position as well.“Last year, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula was removed as the leader of the minority party in the Senate and his position given to his Siaya counterpart James Orengo. Today, Echesa has been fired and replaced by Prof George Magoha from Nyanza. Doesn’t this send a signal to Kenyans?” he posed.
Mr Echesa for the first time spoke about his sacking, saying he was still waiting to be told why he was relieved of his duties.
“I have not received official communication from State House concerning my dismissal even though I know the President has his own reasons for the decision he took,” he said.
Mr Echesa told mourners at a funeral in Marinda village in Matungu constituency that he learnt of his dismissal from the media.
“President Kenyatta had his own reasons to hire me in 2018 and today he has his reasons to remove me,” he said. “But I am still waiting to be given the reasons I was sacked.”
This was the first time the controversial former ODM national youth leader was appearing in public after his fall from grace following his surprise inclusion in the Cabinet last year despite the many questions surrounding his suitability to serve.