Former Mukurwe-ini Member of Parliament Kabando Wa Kabando has defended former Prime Minister Raila Odinga after he ordered the dredging exercise at the Indian Ocean stopped to enable recovery of missing bodies following Likoni channel accident.
Kabando said those criticising the ODM boss were the same people who told off former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai over their legacies.
The ex-MP said Raila issued the order on behalf of President Uhuru Kenyatta and those slamming him were just wasting their time.
"You called Willy Mutunga activist. He left CJ office without a scandal, with reforms. You dismissed Wangari Maathai activist. She departed with biggest global award for it, indeed! You insult Raila Odinga even for giving order at Likoni disaster. Raila speaking for Uhuru! MtaDo? (what will you do?)" Kabando tweeted on Sunday.
ODM Director of Communications Philip Etale on Monday expressed similar sentiments, and accused those claiming Raila has no powers to issue directives over Likoni disaster of suffering from ignorance.
"The directive on dredging has been adhered to. Those shouting hoarse about this are driven by ignorance. We must learn to be humane. There is a family and friends who are having sleepless nights because their beloved ones are still trapped somewhere in the ocean," Etale said
Accompanied by Transport CS James Macharia on Saturday, Raila, the African Union High Representative on Infrastructure, ordered dredging at the Likoni Ferry to stop so the bodies of Mariam Kighenda and her four-year-old daughter can be searched.
“I want to give an order here that the dredging works stop immediately so that those who are working here can work without interference,” he said.