The Star (Nairobi)

Kenya: Jirongo Ditches Pambazuko Coalition

Photo: The Star
Parliamentary session (file photo).

Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo has ditched the Pambazuka Coalition after differing with Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa. Jirongo is accusing Wamalwa of being used by outside forces to split the Western Kenya vote.

Last week Jirongo issued a statement in which he said a move to associate Eugene Wamalwa with the Eagle Alliance comprising of the Party Of Action (POA) under Tuju and Kenya National Congress (KNC) under Peter Kenneth, is one of many plans he had earlier warned Kenyans of as being ploys to ensure a pre-planned outcome to the March 4 general elections next year.

His statement read in part; "On 9th June 2012, I made a speech in Lugari in which I stated that some 6 political parties were being state funded deliberately to lock specific ethnic groups into cocoons to kill the possibility of any party threatening a pre-planned transition outcome."

He further said that he had personally spoken to Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Constitutional Affairs Minister Eugene Wamalwa over blindly joining coalitions only to enjoy short term gains.

In the statement he says, "I pointed out this scheme so that Kenyans can be aware that such manipulation is tantamount to pre-rigging an election and denying the public the right to choose their leaders in an open and fair election. I specifically warned my brother Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Musalia Mudavadi and Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa against falling prey to such political machinations."

Earlier this year, Jirongo had accused Mudavadi of being a statehouse project aimed at diluting the popularity of ODM and presidential candidate Raila Odinga going into the elections next year. Jirongo says his Federal Party will hold a National Executive Committee meeting to decide the way forward.

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