ODM Kisii county Chairman Senator Chris Obure led a delegation of other leaders to visit President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House over th...
ODM Kisii county Chairman Senator Chris Obure led a delegation of other leaders to visit President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House over the weekend
– Obure has now explained that the visit was purposely for development purposes
Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is facing yet another storm after one of its key members visited President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House over the weekend.
Kisii county Senator Chris Obure, who is also the Kisii county ODM chairman, led a delegation of other leaders from Gusii region to State House where they met Uhuru behind the doors.
The move by Obure and other leaders triggered mixed reactions among the residents of the Kisii and Nyamira counties, majority of them Raila Odinga supporters.
The delegation was accused of sycophancy and bootlicking to get favours from the Jubilee government in the name of taking the Abagusii people agenda to the president.
Obure and Kisii county deputy governor Joash Maangi are also believed to be in the process of leaving ODM for Jubilee as Obure seeks to unseat Governor James Ongwae, a close ally of Raila.
The speculation prompted the senator to respond, denying the allegations that they visited State House to receive brown envelopes and sell the Abagusii to Jubilee.
Obure also cleared the air that he still remains the ODM Kisii county chairman but he is open to leave the party should residents advise him to do so.
“I still remain the chairman of ODM Kisii county branch but if the Gusiis decide to steer us another way, then we will discuss with our people and see the way forward,” Obure said as quoted by Nation.
Obure denied that the ODM members in the delegation had defected.
He was accompanied by deputy governor Maangi, former CIC chairman Charles Nyachae, Bomachoge Chache MP Joel Onyancha, Bomachoge Masaba’s Simon Ogari, Kitutu Chache South’s Richard Onyonka, Kitutu Chache North’s Jimmy Angwenyi, Nyaribari Masaba’s Elijah Moindi, Nyaribari Chache’s Richard Tongi, Bobasi’s Stephen Manoti, Bonchari’s Zebedeo Opore and nominated Senator Hosea Ochwangi.
It can be remembered that Maangi also led a delegation of leaders from the region to Deputy President William Ruto’s Sugoi home in December 2015.
The move angered residents of the two counties who blasted the deputy governor of betraying them.
Maangi, however, defended his move saying he was seeking development for the two counties.
However, residents believe that the visits are personal as development is guaranteed with the promulgation of the 2010 constitution which gave birth to county governments.
They believe that leaders shouldn’t beg for development from the national government as that is guaranteed by county governments.
Raila’s ODM has seen the departure of key members to other parties ahead of the 2017 polls.
Others who have left the party are MPs Ababu Namwamba, Paul Otwoma, Zainabu Chidzuga and Gideon Mung’aro.
