Ababu Namwamba says LPK will work with Uhuru’s Jubilee

Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba has declared that his Labour Party of Kenya will work closely with Jubilee Party to promote mature politics and development in western Kenya.

Mr Namwamba on Friday welcomed and accompanied President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto on their tour of Busia County.

“My decision to work with Jubilee is all about mature politics that will deliver meaningful development to our community. That is the direction to go politically,” said Mr Namwamba.

MATURE POLITICS

The time for leaders who practised divisive politics, he said, was long gone, apparently in reference to his former boss and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Mr Namwamba was Mr Odinga’s right-hand man until early this year when he quit the Orange party, claiming he had been sidelined in critical decision-making.

“We want to play mature politics. I am here to receive the president because despite being in the opposition, there is a difference between a political rival and an enemy. We as leaders from Busia are ready to work with those who are development-oriented,” he said.

Mr Namwamba, the former ODM secretary-general, asked western residents to work with the government to realise development.

WAR OF WORDS

Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto launched various development projects in the county that border Uganda, including upgrading of the Ibokolo-Indangalasia-Malaa road and the Mumias water supply project.

The two, who were on their second day of western Kenya tour, were accompanied by Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong and his Bungoma counterpart Ken Lusaka.

Mr Kenyatta seized the opportunity of touring the hitherto opposition stronghold to continue with his war of words with opposition leaders over electoral and other reforms.

The President said the push by the opposition for amendment of the Constitution was “mischievous and misguided”.

CHANGE TUNE

“Kenyans are not ready to dance to the whims of the opposition by amending the Constitution to suit their interest,” he said in Busia town after opening the Agricultural Finance Corporation branch offices.

He said it was unacceptable for the opposition to change tune after pushing for appointment of Cabinet secretaries who were not politicians.

He said the opposition thrived on spreading propaganda to discredit government development agenda and had nothing to offer Kenyans.

Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto were well received by residents who turned up at the Busia stadium as others lined up along the streets to greet them.

Source: Daily nation