DON’T DRAG CORD INTO YOUR MESS, MPS TELL STATE

A section of Cord legislators are up in arms over Deputy President William Ruto’s remarks at the weekend depicting the Opposition as sympathisers of al Shabaab terror group.

MPs Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay Women’s Representative), Chris Wamalwa (Kimilili) and Abbas Mohammed (Ijara) yesterday urged the government to “stop dragging the Opposition into its mess after failing to secure” the country.

The legislators’ remarks came even as two of their Jubilee counterparts alleged a plot by the Opposition to discredit the government on grounds of terror threats facing the country. MPs John Kihagi (Naivasha) and Stephen Kinyanjui (Kinangop) accused Cord of insincerity in its pledge to support the fight against terrorism.

But Cord MPs, addressing the press at Parliament Buildings, yesterday cited tribalism, incompetence and corruption in the country’s security system as the main issues allegedly fuelling the attacks which have seen Kenyans suffer at the hands of terrorists.

“At first, the Mombasa County Commissioner claimed Opposition politicians are responsible for the terror attacks. This was repeated by President Uhuru Kenyatta himself in the wake of Mpeketoni attacks.

We are still waiting for Uhuru to apologise to Kenyans, ” said Wanga, adding: “All that we continue to hear are accusations that seem to be pointing to the Opposition as sympathisers of al Shabaab. These insinuations have been repeatedly made by the Deputy President.”

The legislators also demanded sacking of security heads who slept on the intelligence allegedly availed before attack on Garissa University on April 2. And in Naivasha, Kihagi said the government needs everyone’s support to secure the country.