Raila Odinga hits out at government over skewed appointments

Updated Sunday, July 28th 2013 at 21:35 GMT +3

By Standard Reporter

Texas, USA: CORD leader Raila Odinga who is on a tour of the United States, has lashed out atJubilee government for making appointments that do not reflect the face of Kenya.

The former Prime Minister further accused the new regime of plotting to kill devolution.

Raila said Kenya was still a united State but expressed fears that recent key appointments by Jubilee leaders have sent wrong signals on nationhood.

“Kenyans have been taken for a ride with a claim that a Government had been formed with a national image and full of professionals. How can you pick 60 per cent of Cabinet Secretaries from two communities and then claim to be an all-inclusive Government?” Raila asked.

Raila urged Kenyans to remain united and defend Constitution, whose major focus is devolution.

“Kenyans must take note that devolution, a key constitutional pillar is under threat. Those who were opposed to it are now pretending to be championing its implementation but all they are doing is to kill it,” said the PM Sunday.

Ethnic lines

Raila said devolution did away with the draconian Provincial Administration but the Jubilee government has brought it back, even stronger than ever.

He noted by insisting to have chiefs in place, alongsidegovernors, the country was being set up for administrative chaos.

He was responding to questions from scores of Kenyans living in Texas, USA, who urged the Jubileegovernment to accommodate positive criticism from the opposition CORD and not to drag the country back to the dark days of suppression.

They spoke during an interactive forum with a team of governors led by Raila. During the exchange, concerns were raised over widening political and ethnic lines.