Jubilee MPs question Raila’s role for issuing Likoni order

A section of Jubilee leaders on Sunday hit out at Opposition leader Raila Odinga for ordering the dredging exercise at the Indian Ocean be stopped.

Led by Mathira Member of Parliament Rigathi Gachagua, the leaders accused Odinga of overstepping on his mandate.

“Your excellency, these handshake people are abusing us. We are starting to get a very interesting scenario. How can the opposition leader purport to give instructions to government officials to carry out orders. Is that even possible? questioned Gachagua.

His sentiments were echoed by Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiiri and Silvanas Osoro of Mugirango South who claimed Odinga had taken advantage of the handshake to issue executive orders against the constitution.

“His political career had come to an end but he had to shake hands with President Uhuru Kenyatta who we elected. After the handshake he has been moving around like the president. Yesterday in Mombasa he gave an executive order. We only recognise one president and that is Uhuru Kenyatta whom we elected,” said Osoro.

The leaders were speaking at Mujwa Catholic Parish where they accompanied Deputy President William Ruto at a fundraiser for the church.

In his address, the DP steered clear of the Raila issue opting instead to address development matters where he assured local residents that the national government would join hands with the Meru County Government to implement agricultural programmes.

Mr. Odinga was at the Likoni Ferry on Saturday as the African Union High Representative on Infrastructure and was briefed on the efforts to recover the bodies of 35-year-old Mariam Kighenda and her four-year-old daughter who drowned last Sunday.

The former prime minister directed that the dredging exercise being carried out in the area be halted after being informed that it was interfering with the efforts to recover the two bodies.

“I want to give an order here that the dredging works stop immediately so that those who are working here can work without interference,” said Odinga.

He was accompanied by Transport CS James Macharia and other local leaders.

His remarks raised concerns with a section of the public questioning whether he had the power to issue such orders.