Responding to fears that the once-vibrant Kenya’s opposition was dead, ODM’s card-master Raila Odinga says now they are in the government and employing newfound tack.
Is the opposition dead?
Kenyans had expressed concern that the NASA coalition was not as dramatic and passionate in highlighting the government’s errors as in previous years.
“The opposition is still there. We have just changed tack. A few years back, we used to speak out against corruption but no one listened because they claimed that Raila was being malicious. But now the government is listening,” he stated.
His relationship with the president has enhanced co-operation between the opposition and the government in addressing issues and finding practical solutions.
We are in the government
“The President and I agreed that there are responsibilities in which I can assist because I have experience in running a government,” Odinga disclosed.
That would explain why the ODM leader has been consulting with government officials including CSs on national matters.
Summonsing government CSs
On Tuesday, Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri was hosted by Odinga in his Capitol Hill offices, after which he held a press conference to announce that the government would soon pay sugarcane farmers.
He refuted claims of summoning government officials, arguing that he only invited them for discussions.
“I cannot summon anyone because that would mean I am the boss. But I can invite the CSs to my office to discuss development projects,” he explained.