Keep the Senate Minority Leader Seat to Yourself, Wetang'ula Tells Raila

Ford Kenya chief Moses Wetang’ula has declared that he is no longer interested in the Senate Minority Leader seat.

Speaking on Sunday in Bungoma town, a seemingly bitter Wetang'ula said he will boycott the retreat proposed by National Super Alliance (Nasa) leader Raila Odinga.

“I will not, even if offered by Raila Odinga and his ODM Party, take up the seat of minority leader. That is not what I bargained for, our people in Vihiga, Trans Nzoia, Bungoma, Kakamega and Busia unconditionally supported Raila and gave him an overwhelming vote. Now we have seen their vote of thanks,” said Wetangula.

He added: “Let Raila and ODM keep their seat of minority and let the game begin.”

After Nasa Summit on Thursday, Odinga announced that senators will hold a retreat in the next two weeks to resolve the dispute surrounding the removal of Wetang'ula from the prestigious position.

Wetang'ula, who was flanked by Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi, narrated how the meeting convened by Odinga on Thursday was reduced to an opportunity of attacking him.

“When we went for the Thursday meeting, I thought my party leader had wanted to bring truce, only to be reduced into a meeting of subjecting me into name calling and humiliation," he said.

He accused Raila of remaining silent during the meeting, even as Nasa senators threw insults at him.

“His silence showed a distinct message that my ouster was rehearsed and purely his deal,” he said.

Wetang'ula and Mudavadi hinted at plans of dissolving their parties to form a single party for the Western Kenya's community.

The senator said he will not beg to remain the Minority Leader and dismissed the retreat called by Odinga as useless.

“That [retreat] is like a goat going into a court of hyenas expecting justice,” he said

He vowed to give Raila a run for his money, adding that he will "continue giving him small measured and calculated dosage to ensure he enjoys no comfort."

“When we supported Raila Odinga in August 2017, I did not bargain to be minority leader. It is the summit that said since I was the only principal in Parliament, I should take the position of leadership because we needed to continue a synergy between organs of the party and parliament.”

“I shall and will not participate in that retreat because i will be subjecting myself to a goat walking into a court of hyenas to be tried and the hyenas will come laughing saying ‘where did you delay we want to deal with you immediately’…” he said.

Wetang'ula was removed from the seat on Tuesday by ODM affiliated senators and was replaced by his Siaya counterpart James Orengo.