Phelix Jalang’o Odiwuor, the newly elected Lang’ata member of parliament, raised eyebrows among Kenyans on Twitter when he claimed that he had been offered money to leave the Azimio One Kenya alliance.
Speaking to Ramogi TV, the former radio host claimed that MPs from the Kenya Kwanza faction had approached him about leaving his party, but he had refused.
Even a court decision favoring Kenya Kwanza, according to the new member of parliament, would not convince him to switch sides.
“We have been called severally. What is important is that you should stand for your beliefs and the party that sponsored you to parliament,” alleged the comedian.
Read: Lang’ata MP Candidate Jalang’o Offers To Reinstate Ex-Staffers Who Stole From Him
“If you know what you stand for, then you cannot join Kenya Kwanza. We are ready to serve in the opposition even if the supreme court does not rule in favour of Raila,” he added.
Jalang’o made the utterances at a time when the president-elect was trying to rally support in the legislature after a number of opposition MPs joined the Kenya Kwanza alliance.
Former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana is the latest defector.
“We associate with the leadership that Prof. Kivutha Kibwana has manifested in agreeing to work with us in furthering our country’s development agenda,” said DP William Ruto after receiving Kibwana at his official residence in Karen.
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Last week, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) party led by Senator Ali Roba formally ditched Azimio for Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza.
“Kenya Kwanza has grown…over time many members have joined, today UDM has joined and like any other members before you, UDM will become an equal member like all the others,” said Ruto.
“Kenya Kwanza is broad enough to accommodate all of us. Karibuni sana.”
However, Azimio leaders have criticized the Kenya Kwanza leadership’s action, terming it an affront to democracy.
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“Ruto is assiduously wooing some of the leaders elected as Independents and on the Azimio coalition to defect to his side,” Azimio Presidential Campaign Secretariat spokesperson Prof Makau Mutua said.
“This is the practice that was used in the KANU era to defeat the independence of the legislature and retard the growth of multiparty democracy.”
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