Balala’s sacking to cost Raila dearly – Muslims

Raila is accused of disregarding agreement he signed with National Forum of Leaders of Muslim Organisations (NAMLEF)/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 28 – Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s fortunes at the Coast have taken a turn for the worse after nominated MP Sheikh Mohammed Dor and other Muslim leaders accused him of betraying a Memorandum of Understanding he signed with them in the run up to the 2007 elections.

The leaders, who accompanied former Tourism Minister Najib Balala to a press briefing on Wednesday, accused the premier of disregarding the agreement he signed with the National Forum of Leaders of Muslim Organisations (NAMLEF).

Dor said that the betrayal would not be taken lightly terming Balala’s drop from the Cabinet as an attempt by the Prime Minister to create religious strife.

“Balala’s removal from office is contemptuous and it is something that we will carry with us to the next election; we will not forget. We are Kenyans and our leaders must be respected,” he said.

NAMLEF chairman Sheikh Abdullahi Abdi added that Odinga could not be trusted with the leadership of the country saying he was a dictator.

“I think Muslims were misled in the same way that Kenyans were misled. There was a perception that Raila was a reformer but the veneer of reforms has now been lifted,” he said.

“The true chemistry of this person has come out and what does it speak of? It speaks of a power hungry dictator who will stop at nothing to get power,” he charged.

Balala on the other hand maintained that he lost his cabinet post for standing by the truth, adding that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) had no democracy.

He also challenged Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi to leave ODM or risk quashing his presidential ambitions.

“The price of being an independent minded person is that you get fired and if Mudavadi seriously wants to be the president of this country, I can guarantee you, he will not get it through ODM. Unfortunately if he decides to leave, he will get fired,” he quipped.

He added that ODM was a sinking ship that would crumble with Mudavadi’s exit. He also spoke highly of the Deputy Prime Minister saying he would make a good president.

“ODM is being held by Mudavadi and if he leaves it will collapse. He is a good leader who can make a good President but he needs to cut links with ODM,” he argued.

The former Tourism Minister also revealed that he was in the process of consulting like-minded political and religious leaders with a view of determining the best political party through which to vie in the next polls.

“It’s still too early to name the party but we already have a few choices that we are in talks with,” he said.

However speaking in Mombasa, Odinga said he had no option but to sack Balala as he had out rightly opposed the leadership in ODM.

The premier said he could not stomach Balala’s public attacks on the party and decided to relieve him of his duties.

Odinga further assured Mombasa leaders that they would soon get a ministerial post.

Dor had earlier noted that Balala’s drop had effectively stripped the coastal people of their last ministerial post.

“It is unfortunate that the ODM Chairman has thrown out the MOU we signed with him and he has even gone ahead to remove the last Minister we had as Muslims,” he argued.

Isiolo MP Abdul Bahari and Kamukunji’s Yusuf Hassan were also present.

mkeleketwa

i think the party is not a one man show.this is to mean that the decisions of the party needs to be done by the executive officers not the party leader.why it shows that Odm is not Kenyans party but a persons asset who may even decide to change the name without consulting other members.this is the reason why however much you try to compare Odm with ANC it will never happen.the next casualty is Mudavadi

Sina Makosa

As Balala said, Mudavadi will be a casualty only if he decides to stand on his own two feet and to think independently, of which Mudavadi has no record of doing.

Yahala

Balala is not representing all muslims in Mombasa county.
He is not an islamic cleric,preacher or a reliable thinker.
As a resident of Mvita constituency I did not benefit even a single shilling from his ministerial post for tourism.
Balala Stop hoodwinking Muslims!!.
You will be cursed for mixing politics with our religion Islam.
Hayawani wewe!!!.

Sina Makosa

Yahala did you want someone to bring you an envelope and say hey this is yours from tourism? Give us a break and stop parading your ignorance. A wise man once said ask not what your country will do for you, instead ask wht you will do for your country. Thank you.

Laban Okune

Balala and team giving us crap!! Petty politics. If you are not loyal to your employer, you get the sack. There is no other way around it. In fact, if RAO did not sack him, I would have lost faith in him leading Kenya!!!

Sina Makosa

Mr Okune CORRECTION! Raila is NOT the employer- it is the Kenyan ppl- when will you get over megalomania- kindly read my post above
Pratt

Raila Balala’s employer, what a classical nonsense? Raila simply begged to have Balala sacked when he was merely informed that Wamalwa was to be elavated to counter-check him in western. However, the fake reformer has already created a false impression that he “sacked!” The cheat will never stop until he burries himself 6ft under with empty lies. Whats surprising is that he gives chocolates and in turn is given poison and swallows it without question. A person with that short-sightedness cant be president of this country. I guess, he will end up begging us to afford him the presidency “just for day” like his late father!

Sina Makosa

Raila has shot himself in the foot here, ODM is left as a party of sycophants truth be told. Balala has said it, Migunax2 said it even WSR did. Am sorry this is the begining of the end for RAO. This is not the time to make more enemies- No Central vote, no Rift Valley Vote and now no Mombasa/Coast Vote. History repeating itself just as it happened with his Dad it will be the same for RAO- the presidency will mysteriously but surely avoid him. If you live by divisiveness, am afraid you will also fall by divisiveness..

Malingumu

You are being alarmist unnecessarily. Why mention People like Miguna who realized RAO was undemocratic after getting the sack.How comes RAO was a great leader when Miguna was still serving him. Why mention voting blocks that RAO has never received votes. You dont expect RAO to receive votes from regions that may also have their candidate to support ? Balala has been grumbling all a long without saying what his problem has been.How comes the issue of Muslim Memo was only being mentioned after he had been sacked.Is written Memo equivalent to democracy ? Why should presidency mysteriously avoid him ? RAO is yet to engage in free and fair democratic process and presidency has not been his reserve ? Contest is what democracy is all about.

Sina Makosa

I am not being ‘alarmist unnecessarily’ am just saying it like it is. My friend, how will RAO muster the desired majority for President when he has made so many enemies who will all work against him? The same game RAO has played for years is what is being played against him and as usual ODM, now party of sycophants, cannot/doesn’t want to do simple arithmetics of 1+1=2. If you ask me they are either daft or playing daft. Have you heard of the proverbial camel hiding its head in sand while the rest of the body is painfully visible? Am afraid this is what the die hard RAO/ODM supporters are doing and unfortunately anyone with a differing opinion is quickly bundled out. Waswahili walisema Leo ni mimi kesho ni wewe ndugu.

nyakenda

I didn’t know there are Muslim ministers in Kenya. I thought Kenya is a secular state and all religions are equal. If we adopt this kind of talk what will Hindus say? Religion should be discouraged in politics.
sekky

in reply to pratt
a you also not a typical hate filled kikuyu – a people who are so self centred who don’t want to see any other kenya community at par with them.that why we have this RAILAPHOBIA thing in them.Sometimes comment positively about the PM after all kenya belongs to all of us
Issack

Pratt has crossed the red line.
You will one day regret for accusing Raila as a Mass murder.
You are out of your mind.
Dont pretend to side with Balala.
Yahala

KKK alliance is busy with prayer rallies just making fun and demeaning christianity while RAO is busy with country development projects and initiatives.
May God bless you RAO for the cash transfer subsidy.
The tears of joy which I saw flowing from the eyes of some poor old aged ladies will grant you land slide victory in the next General election Godwilling.
God bless you and protect you.
Deeqanitrate

I think this will be an eye opener to muslim community,raila always pretend to care for muslims but the truth is he is using them negatively,we prefer musalia as president but on one condition,ditching ODM.
Japolo

!!!!!!!!!!?????????? @me ako na balaa kushinda balala mwenyewe. whatever you want to rant about is your own problem. SiNajibu mwenzangu!
Pratt

It wont take long before you realize NINAJIBU! Just make sure that you dont commit suicide when doom comes calling. Why luos love enjoying pain of others has left me buffled. Causing pain to others in order to attempt to get your way doesnt pay pal. It only helps to block that way. You have heard Raila himself saying a luo will tell you to wait for the “government” is p***ng off? Is that the kind of stuff to come from a purported presidential candidate? Is it not true his illogical blunders are quickly hidden by the media? But thank God with internet tribal protection has evaporated and thats why we have been able to expose the true colours of this GENUINE WATER MELON!!!!