Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa has fired shots at Jubilee Vice-Chair David Murathe for what he termed as intimidation and coercion attempts.
Speaking on Radio Jambo on Thursday evening, Barasa who has been in the front line in pushing for the ouster of top government officials implicated in the contraband sugar saga accused Murathe of allegedly trying to derail his push.
He noted that Murathe has since discouraged him from proceeding with the motion on grounds that members of the ruling party should not be seen to take actions aimed at victimising government officials.
‘’Ukimsikia Murathe akinikashifu na kusema eti kama mjumbe wa chama cha serikali sifai kupinga waziri wa serikali, hayo ni mafikira ya kizamani yanayorudisha watu nyuma (that is a backward kind of thinking from Murathe which risks taking the nation aback),’’ said Barasa.
The Jubilee member maintained that he will not be cowed into dropping his push for the ouster of Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, noting that he can survive with or without the backing of Murathe’s Jubilee Party.
The lawmaker said that he is simply out to represent Kenyans and his Kimilili constituents, saying that they are the only ones who can influence his decisions and issue him ultimatums.
‘’Watu wa kimilili tu ndio wanaweza nitisha nikatishika sababu wao ndio wananipa nguvu. Mimi sitoi nguvu zangu bungeni ama Jubilee headquarters (only my Kimilili people can intimidate me as I depend on their backing. I do not depend on anyone from either the parliament or the Jubilee Party headquarters),'' he added.
CS Rotich in 2017 gave a blanket authority for the importation of duty-free sugar which Barasa and his counterparts from the sugar-growing regions of Western Kenya are saying is killing the sugar sector.