Post by Peoples Progressive Party on Sept 19, 2005 23:40:43 GMT 3
Tuju forms own party
By Fredrick Odiero & Musembi Nzengu
INFORMATION Minister Raphael Tuju yesterday held a meeting parallel to that of his cabinet colleague Raila Odinga where he announced the formation of his own political party.
Mr Tuju announced the formation of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) some seven kilometres away from where Odinga was chairing a high level consultative meeting composed of Members of Parliament of Liberal Democratic Party at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu.
As simmering differences between Tuju and Odinga heightened, it was announced that the PPP spokesman will be Dr Odhiambo Olel who was a personal physician to the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
Mr Odinga, however, immediately dismissed the party and wished Tuju well in his new endeavour. Mr Odinga said the most important issue at hand was the constitutional review process. He said Tuju was free to form a party since there are over 50 registered parties in the country.
Speaking at the Ukweli pastoral Centre where the party was founded Mr Tuju said he would form alliances with Ford Kenya leader Musikari Kombo and UDM leader Kipruto Kirwa and Ford People colleague Simeon Nyachae.
He said the Luo should now stop their arrogance and work with other parties in the country. Mr Tuju said the Luos cannot make any headway with their 30% voting capacity and must work with other communities in the country.
Present at the Tom Mboya Labour College where Odinga chaired the meeting were legislators Oburu Odinga, Eric Nyamunga, Orwa Ojode, Stephen Ondiek, Peter Odoyo, Eric Gor Sunguh and Ken Nyagudi Otieno Kajwang and the chairman of the Luo council of Elders Riaga Ogallo.
And present at Ukweli were Mzee Oselu Nyalik, Tom Obondo, Ken Opande, among others.
Earlier Mr Odinga led the huge group in declaring their No vote to the forthcoming referendum on the constitution.
He said that the No vote side would emerge victorious hence following Kenyans to the Bomas Draft constitution.
He said that it was not true that the constitution would divide Kenyans adding that the French went to the referendum but the country is still intact.
Mr Odinga who is the Langata legislator said there would have been no need for a referendum if there was unanimity among Kenyans.
Reading the resolutions of the meeting Kajwang said they had rejected the Kilifi draft.
He said it vests too much powers in the executive and even kills democracy that Kenyans fought hard for.
Tuju has been battling Raila over political supremacy in Luo Nyanza. Whereas Tuju is said to enjoy government support, Raila is considered a critic of the Kibaki administration. Raila together with cabinet ministers Kalonzo Musyoka, Najib Balala, Ochillo Ayacko and Prof Anyang Nyong’o have rejected the Wako draft.
Elsewhere, the Orange campaign team headed for Mwingi District where they held a rally to drum up support for the “No” vote against the draft constitution.
Speaking at Migwani Market in LDP chairman David Musila’s Mwingi South Constituency, six MPs took issue with threats, insults and intimidation directed at the No vote team by cabinet ministers in the Yes campaign group.
They single out for attack Internal Security Minister John Michuki, his assistant Mirugi Kariuki and Transport Minister Dr Chris Murungaru for frequently issuing jail threats to the No vote team.
The MPs, who included Joseph Kamotho (Mathioya), Reuben Ndolo (Makadara) Charles Kilonzo (Yatta) Kiema Kilonzo (Mutito) and Lucas Maitha (Malindi), vowed that no amount of intimidation would stop the No train as it would definitely emerge at the November 21 referendum.
They claimed that the Yes vote team had resorted to issuing threats out of desperation sensing defeat at the November 21, referendum. They said Kenyans had resolved to vote No vote to the Draft constitution as it was dangerously flawed and not good for posterity.
Mr Musila who was also the host, took exception to the threats to have cabinet Minister Kalonzo Musyoka jailed for his No stand against the Wako draft. He cautioned that Mr Musyoka was not an orphan and any attempt to have him jailed or frustrate his ambition would meet with full resistance from his supporters throughout the country.
The LDP chairman ruled out any dialogue on the draft between the two opposing camps saying that the Yes group had frustrated such attempts in the past. He said all Kenyans including leaders drumming up support for the draft were unanimous that it was 20 per cent fatally flawed and for that reason it should be rejected.
Mr Kamotho, the LDP Secretary-General said the draft constitution did not belong to Kenyans as it was drafted by Ministers Kiraitu Murungi, Simeon Nyachae and Attorney-General Amos Wako to serve their secretarian interests.
By Fredrick Odiero & Musembi Nzengu
INFORMATION Minister Raphael Tuju yesterday held a meeting parallel to that of his cabinet colleague Raila Odinga where he announced the formation of his own political party.
Mr Tuju announced the formation of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) some seven kilometres away from where Odinga was chairing a high level consultative meeting composed of Members of Parliament of Liberal Democratic Party at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu.
As simmering differences between Tuju and Odinga heightened, it was announced that the PPP spokesman will be Dr Odhiambo Olel who was a personal physician to the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
Mr Odinga, however, immediately dismissed the party and wished Tuju well in his new endeavour. Mr Odinga said the most important issue at hand was the constitutional review process. He said Tuju was free to form a party since there are over 50 registered parties in the country.
Speaking at the Ukweli pastoral Centre where the party was founded Mr Tuju said he would form alliances with Ford Kenya leader Musikari Kombo and UDM leader Kipruto Kirwa and Ford People colleague Simeon Nyachae.
He said the Luo should now stop their arrogance and work with other parties in the country. Mr Tuju said the Luos cannot make any headway with their 30% voting capacity and must work with other communities in the country.
Present at the Tom Mboya Labour College where Odinga chaired the meeting were legislators Oburu Odinga, Eric Nyamunga, Orwa Ojode, Stephen Ondiek, Peter Odoyo, Eric Gor Sunguh and Ken Nyagudi Otieno Kajwang and the chairman of the Luo council of Elders Riaga Ogallo.
And present at Ukweli were Mzee Oselu Nyalik, Tom Obondo, Ken Opande, among others.
Earlier Mr Odinga led the huge group in declaring their No vote to the forthcoming referendum on the constitution.
He said that the No vote side would emerge victorious hence following Kenyans to the Bomas Draft constitution.
He said that it was not true that the constitution would divide Kenyans adding that the French went to the referendum but the country is still intact.
Mr Odinga who is the Langata legislator said there would have been no need for a referendum if there was unanimity among Kenyans.
Reading the resolutions of the meeting Kajwang said they had rejected the Kilifi draft.
He said it vests too much powers in the executive and even kills democracy that Kenyans fought hard for.
Tuju has been battling Raila over political supremacy in Luo Nyanza. Whereas Tuju is said to enjoy government support, Raila is considered a critic of the Kibaki administration. Raila together with cabinet ministers Kalonzo Musyoka, Najib Balala, Ochillo Ayacko and Prof Anyang Nyong’o have rejected the Wako draft.
Elsewhere, the Orange campaign team headed for Mwingi District where they held a rally to drum up support for the “No” vote against the draft constitution.
Speaking at Migwani Market in LDP chairman David Musila’s Mwingi South Constituency, six MPs took issue with threats, insults and intimidation directed at the No vote team by cabinet ministers in the Yes campaign group.
They single out for attack Internal Security Minister John Michuki, his assistant Mirugi Kariuki and Transport Minister Dr Chris Murungaru for frequently issuing jail threats to the No vote team.
The MPs, who included Joseph Kamotho (Mathioya), Reuben Ndolo (Makadara) Charles Kilonzo (Yatta) Kiema Kilonzo (Mutito) and Lucas Maitha (Malindi), vowed that no amount of intimidation would stop the No train as it would definitely emerge at the November 21 referendum.
They claimed that the Yes vote team had resorted to issuing threats out of desperation sensing defeat at the November 21, referendum. They said Kenyans had resolved to vote No vote to the Draft constitution as it was dangerously flawed and not good for posterity.
Mr Musila who was also the host, took exception to the threats to have cabinet Minister Kalonzo Musyoka jailed for his No stand against the Wako draft. He cautioned that Mr Musyoka was not an orphan and any attempt to have him jailed or frustrate his ambition would meet with full resistance from his supporters throughout the country.
The LDP chairman ruled out any dialogue on the draft between the two opposing camps saying that the Yes group had frustrated such attempts in the past. He said all Kenyans including leaders drumming up support for the draft were unanimous that it was 20 per cent fatally flawed and for that reason it should be rejected.
Mr Kamotho, the LDP Secretary-General said the draft constitution did not belong to Kenyans as it was drafted by Ministers Kiraitu Murungi, Simeon Nyachae and Attorney-General Amos Wako to serve their secretarian interests.