Mutinda Mwanzia
8 March 2008
Nairobi — A silent rebellion against Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka is brewing in ODM-Kenya.
Already, MPs Mr Kiema Kilonzo (Mutito) and Charles Kilonzo (Yatta) are said to be warming up to the Orange Democratic Movement.
The two MPs last week lashed out at Kalonzo accusing him of high handedness.
Kiema, Kilonzo and their Kathiani seat counterpart, Ms Wavinya Ndeti (CCU) claimed Kalonzo had tampered with the list of nominated councillors from their constituencies.
The rift in the party has sparked an intense war of words between Kalonzo's allies and those opposed to him.
At the same time, some party officials have said Kalonzo should retain his VP position in the anticipated power-sharing deal between PNU and ODM.
The party parliamentary group on Friday said Kalonzo had entered into a coalition with PNU to form the Government immediately after the polls.
"We are firmly in the Government and believe in the coalition," said Government Deputy Chief Whip and Kangundo MP, Mr Johnson Muthama.
Addressing a news conference at Parliament Buildings on Friday, Muthama said ODM-Kenya was a key partner in the coalition and should not be dismissed.
He told off two rebel MPs, Kilonzo and Kiema accusing them of working at the behest of external forces to undermine the VP.
But in a swift rejoinder, Kilonzo said Muthama had no capacity to criticise them, adding that their grievances were a genuine case of betrayal by someone they supported, last year.
Elsewhere, former assistant minister and Masinga MP, Mr Ronald Kiluta, has urged Kalonzo to take up the position of Leader of the Official Opposition, if he hopes to run for president in future.
Lawyers have also said Kalonzo should be in the opposition for the public interest. Law Society of Kenya Chairman, Mr Okong'o Omogeni and East Africa Law Society President, Mr Tom Ojienda, said the current coalition between PNU and ODM overtakes any prior arrangements that existed between President Kibaki and Kalonzo.
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