Immediate former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende has dismissed claims that ODM used uncouth means to defeat former speaker Francis Ole Kaparo.
In a bitterly contested poll in 2008, Marende was elected speaker having been fronted by ODM, which had refused to concede defeat to Mwai Kibaki.
In an interview with the Standard, Kaparo had claimed that ODM legislators took oath at Raila's Karen home.
“They were on a three-day bonding trip to get me out. They voted like robots,” he said, throwing his hands in the air in mirth.
But in a rejoinder, Marende accused Kaparo of having not expected the changes despite having been in power for 15 years by then.
According to him, wheels of democracy were turning. He insisted that he did a good job between 2008-13.
“Kaparo needs to grow up. He was bitter. The wheels of democracy were turning and he was not ready. He had served for 15 years, he needs to let things go,” said Marende.
“The only thing Kaparo was better at was that he had a louder voice. I am sharper, and my scorecard speaks for itself,” he added.
Marende, a former Emuhaya MP, went on to lose to Justin Muturi in 2013 when President Uhuru Kenyatta took over from Mwai Kibaki.
The former speaker also served as Kenya Power chairman. He has been out of active politics for years now.