Caroline Wafula
19 April 2008
Nairobi — A section of Rift Valley ODM MPs have voiced discontent over the recent Cabinet appointments.
Ten MPs from Pokot, Keiyo, Nakuru, Marakwet and Mount Elgon districts said the Cabinet appointments were skewed towards Western and Nyanza Provinces.
ODM gave six ministerial positions to the Rift Valley while Nyanza and Western got five and three, respectively.
The MPs also cited lack of consultation in the party over key decisions.
The MPs convened a press conference at the Old Chambers of Parliament where they said the greater Kericho was short-changed despite the role it played in the performance of ODM in the polls.
Their statement came just a day after the swearing in of the grand coalition Government.
The MPs belonging to the Rift Valley parliamentary group said they were disappointed that only one minister was appointed from Kericho.
They argued that the region delivered votes to ODM greater than Western Province which has four ministers.
MPs present at the conference were Lucas Kigen (Rongai), Lucas Chepkitony (Keiyo North), Joshua Kutuny (Cherengany), Franklin Bett (Bureti), Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu), Julius Kones (Konoin), Fred Kapondi (Mt Elgon), Moses Lessoret (Eldama Ravine), Boaz Kaino (Marakwet West) and David Koech (Mosop).
Loyalty
Mr Koech, who is the chairman of the group said the MPs support the grand coalition Government but was categorical that their loyalty to ODM was no longer certain.
"We are alerting the party through the media that we are indeed disappointed," he said.
Mr Bett said the legislators will be closely watching appointments in the civil service to see whether they will be "as skewed as the Cabinet appointments."
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Nation. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
