By Jabali Media
Democratic Action Party (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa has been ‘called to order’ after accusing ODM party leader Raila Odinga of entrenching tribalism, through the broad-based government with President William Ruto’s UDA faction.
Speaking in Bungoma recently, Wamalwa pointed at Raila’s allies from Nyanza who have landed government appointments in the recent past as an act of betrayal to the former Prime Minister's supporters from other parts of the country.
“You have been given positions, the entire National Treasury, you have taken to your Nyanza. All the Energy Ministry, you have taken to your Nyanza. Attorney General, the chairman of the parliamentary budget committee, you have taken your region. The chairman of energy, you have given to your brother, from the same home,” Wamalwa said.
However, in a rejoinder, Jonathan Okoth Opande, member of the ODM committee in Nyakach constituency said government appointments are not dished out based on tribal affiliations, insisting that merit is the major deciding factor.
“We wish to inform you that appointments in cabinet are done on merit and not tribal affiliations,” said Opande, who is eyeing the Nyakach Parliamentary seat in 2027.
Taking Western where Wamalwa comes from for instance, Opande said the region has two Cabinet Secretaries, a Prime Cabinet Secretary and Speaker of the National Assembly.
Nyanza, he added, has the least number of government appointments compared to Western, Central and Rift Valley.
Opande spoke while issuing bursary support to over 600 secondary school students in Nyakach on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the newly elected ODM chairman in Nyakach constituency Charles Odhiambo said the recent party elections were conducted in a free and fair manner.
He dismissed claims that cases of violence witnessed in parts of the constituency during the polls, may have affected the final results.
“The polls were free and fair, nothing went wrong. An incident of violence happened 7 kilometres from where elections were being conducted,” he stated.
His sentiments were echoed by Rashid Miruka, a delegate.