Nairobi Star (Nairobi)
30 October 2008
Nairobi — Prime Minister Raila Odinga was yesterday evening facing intensifying rebellion as three Pentagon Members indicated to the Nairobi Star that they would withdraw their support if he does not change his authoritarian ways.
Raila is due to meet the ODM parliamentary group today at Old Chambers in Parliament to try and dampen down revolt within the party, particularly among Rift Valley MPs.
The three dissident Pentagon members say the Prime Minister has been treating them with little respect and is no longer available for consultations.
"He has showed us many times that he does not value us anymore. That team you saw during elections is gone. Some of us have been insulted by junior fellows like Jakoyo Midiwo and told things which almost border on treason," said one Pentagon member.
Gem MP Midiwo is the ODM chief whip who cancelled Tuesday's parliamentary group meeting. He is Raila's cousin.
Raila created the Pentagon as a national front for the ODM in last year's presidential and parliamentary elections. They are Deputy Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Agriculture minister William Ruto, Tourism minister Najib Balala, Cooperatives minister Joseph Nyaga and Water minister Charity Ngilu.
The three Pentagon members who spoke to Nairobi Star separately said they were shocked that Tuesday's ODM parliamentary group meeting was cancelled at the last minute by Midiwo who is currently in the United States to observe elections.
"We are not involved in policy decision-making anymore. I will tell you for example that we do not know who took the decision to replace Justice Richard Kwach as the chairman of the ODM election board," added one Pentagon member.
Former Rwangwe MP Philip Okundi replaced Kwach earlier this year and has since managed by-elections in Embakasi, Emuhaya, Ainamoi, Bomet, Wajir North and Sotik.
"Only one of us seems to enjoy access to the PM. The rest of us are treated with mistrust," said another Pentagon member.
"It was a mistake to support him last year and never again will I support him for the Presidency", one Pentagon member went so far as to say.
The three Pentagon members said the Party leader had failed to convene regular Pentagon meetings since they joined cabinet six months ago.
"We have tried to have this meetings held without success and when we have some meetings that we hope to raise issues, the PM invites other ODM ministers, some who are just sycophants and will not allow anyone to criticize him like we did.
They three also gave an example of the recent retreat in Naivasha in which they said was meant for MPs and members of the executive only but "some other people whom we did not even know were also invited and all they did was intimidate legislators who had legitimate issues against the PM".
The dissident Pentagon members were initially very opposed to the Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura but curiously have now changed their stand about him.
"The sooner Raila realizes that Muthaura is the executive Prime Minister of this country the better. We misunderstood him when we were out there and when we came in, we discovered that he is the most trusted lieutenant of President Kibaki. We therefore we have no choice but deal with him," said another Pentagon member.
One Pentagon member said ODM was being marginalized while Raila was seduced by the trappings of power.
Meanwhile Raila had been reaching out to MPs to explain his position on the Waki report and pleaded for their continued support.
He met Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba on Tuesday just after the rebel MP read a statement on behalf of 26 other MPs, mainly from Rift Valley, and confirmed that he will attend today's parliamentary group meeting.
"I met the Prime Minister to discuss a few issues and most importantly the need to keep the party united. I'm sure we will sort out the pressing issues at our PG today" said Namwamba who is leading the backbenchers pushing for the formation of the Grand Opposition which Raila opposes.
Raila also spoke to Mumias MP Ben Washiali who chaired the Tuesday meeting that resolved to censure party leaders who have been issuing unauthorized statements on behalf ODM.
Raila was also expected to meet MPs from Luo Nyanza last night to help prevent the disintegration of ODM. The Nyanza MPs skipped the Tuesday meeting convened by 26 MPs even though they were in Parliament at the time.
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