ODM leaders urge Kalonzo to dump opposition after heckling at Linda Mwananchi launch

• The ODM leaders, who spoke at Kenyatta Stadium in Maralal town, Samburu County, during an empowerment program for banditry victims, urged Kalonzo to cross the political aisle and join them.

Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) party leader Kalonzo Musyoka gestures during a past rally. PHOTO | COURTESY

By Bonface Barasa

Leaders allied to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) oparty have criticised the newly launched Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM), accusing the party of disrespecting Wiper Patriotic Front party leader and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka who was heckled while giving his speech at the launch.

The ODM leaders, who spoke at Kenyatta Stadium in Maralal town, Samburu County, during an empowerment program for banditry victims, urged Kalonzo to cross the political aisle and join them.

National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed said: “These are the same people who are telling us wana support mambo ya freedom of speech, hawa ndio wanataka demokrasia, constitutionalism…and they cannot allow a senior citizen like Kalonzo Musyoka, a former Vice President, to speak in their gathering.”

With the leaders castigating Kalonzo's heckling at the event and terming it as backwardness, they asked him to dump the united opposition.

ODM National Chairperson and Homa Bag Governor Gladys Wang said: “Mimi nashtuka sana na mambo ya Kalonzo. Sasa anaenda pale, mzee wa taifa anafanyiwa madharau, anapigiwa makelele, anaambiwa wewe kaa chini, fuata sijui nani. Kalonzo ndugu yetu, wewe umekuwa mzee kwa muda mrefu na mimi nauliza ata wafuasi wote wa Kalonzo, nyinyi mnapenda Kalonzo akifanyiwa madharau kama ile jamani?”

ODM has faulted the opposition-led faction, saying that the group is confused and will be defeated in next year's General Election.

Wanga added: “Hawana candidate, watapambana, watapigana kwa mahoteli, ikifika next year February bado hawatakuwa na candidate. Sisi tutakuwa tumejipanga…William Samoei Ruto ako hapa, Oburu Oginga, team hii kubwa iko hapa…tutavaa jersey zetu na game ni 90… saa mbili asubuhi itakuwa ni two term.”

“Wanasema wao ndio wako na shareholding mingi sisi hatuna, mimi nataka niwaambie na waelewe safari hii mwaka wa 2027 urais wa Kenya tunampatia William Samoei Ruto…2032 utakuja kwa jamii chache,” stated Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho.

On Saturday, the team will lead the Nairobi chapter event in the culmination of the "Mwezi wa Baba" celebrations.