A section of Nairobi county MPs allied to Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party leader Raila Odinga have rubbished calls asking him to quit politics after landing a job with the African Union (AU) as special envoy.
The MPs Anthony Oluoch (Mathare), Ken Okoth (Kibera), Simba Arati (Dagoretti North), Babu Owino (Embakasi East) and former Embakasi South MP Irshad Sumra say that Raila will not be forced to quit politics.
Speaking at a presser at the Orange House in Nairobi on Wednesday, the MPs said that Raila’s AU appointment did not come with conditions that he should quit politics.
According to the MPs, Raila’s political critics are using the appointment to curtail his involvement in active politics.
“Raila will decide when he will retire from politics and cannot be forced to do so,” Oluoch said.
He said that they will reject any attempts to intimidate the former Prime Minister in the name of a job.
“As far as we are concerned, Raila is in politics to stay and no one has moral authority to tell him to retire,” Kibera MP said.
“There is no politician who asked Raila to join politics and no one should ask him to quit politics, he will do so at his convenience and timing,” Sumra, former Embakasi South MP said.
The ODM politicians said that while the AU job has elevated Raila’s status, his 'detractors' should keep off.
The Nairobi MPs said that Raila remains ODM presidential flag bearer in the forthcoming 2022 general election.
On Sunday, a section of politicians allied to Deputy President William Ruto asked Raila to quit politics and concentrate on his new job.
Raila has been appointed as AU High Representative for Infrastructure and Development.
The ODM leader has accepted the appointment.
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