Cabinet Secretary for Interior Fred Matiang’i on Friday revealed the finer details of his close association with the leaders of the opposition.
Speaking in Kisii during the BBI consultative meeting, Matiang’i confessed that two ODM leaders were key in guiding him in making critical decisions in government.
In what could seemingly spark an uproar among leaders of Tanga Tanga political faction, who have on record castigated the Interior CS for intimidating them, Matiang’i revealed that the Rarieda MP Otiende Omollo and Siaya Senator James Orengo have been instrumental in guiding him through complex situations.
“Since the Handshake, I must confess here that I am the beneficiary of the counsel and guidance of my colleagues here Otiende Amollo and Senator Orengo.
“They occasionally tell me my brother you are young this thing is supposed to be done this way and not that way. And if you go this way you are likely to get it better and I changed that and that is the kind of the country we want to live in,” said Matiang’i.
The revelations come in the wake of the ongoing accusations labelled towards Matiang’i by a section of Tanga Tanga leaders who claimed that the CS has on several occasions met the opposition leaders in a bid to intimidate them.
However, Matiang’i insisted on strictly following the guidance of President Uhuru Kenyatta and the ODM leader while discharging his duties.
Matiang’i also pledged his support for the handshake deal between saying it had brought calmness into the country.
The Interior CS said he will work closely with ODM leader and urged the Kisii community to support him in his course to bring the country together.
The Kisii meeting brought together all governor’s from the Nyanza region, save for the Siaya county chief, ODM deputy party leaders, Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya, Governors Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Charity Ngilu (Kitui) and several MPs and Senators.
The leaders resolved that the BBi recommendations requiring a parliamentary approach should be effected through the National Assembly while those requiring the popular initiative to go through a referendum.
In his address, Raila hinted that a referendum will be held before June of 2020.
The proposal attracted massive criticism from leaders allied to DP William Ruto who said the country has no resources to waste on an unnecessary referendum.