Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir joins supporters after being cleared by the IEBC to defend his seat. [Photo: Abdulswamad Nassir/ facebook.com]
National holidays should be hosted on rotational basis an ODM MP has said.
Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir said constitutionally, every county has the right to taste benefits that come with hosting national events.He was speaking in his constituency on Friday after Nyeri County hosted the 2017 Madaraka Day celebrations. A business boom was reported in Nyeri town as Kenyans convened in the county for the fete.“National events are supposed to be held across the country as per the Constitution,” Nassir said.“They were to follow the county numbers. Mombasa as county number 001 would have been the first. But I don’t see it happening soon in Mombasa. The country belongs to all Kenyans and the government should listen to and work with everyone,” he added.He said the fact that President Uhuru Kenyatta has been at loggerheads with Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho will see Mombasa take long to host any of such events.Nassir said Uhuru and his deputy will only attend national fetes in counties where governors are deemed “friendly”.“This government behaves like an ostrich which puts its head down and assumes the enemy will not be able to see it,” he said.“That’s why President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto will visit only governors who are friendly, the ones who are playing good boys politics. The Uhuru administration prefers to hold public holiday celebrations where the governors are afraid to speak the truth.”He said the president only works with people who can’t speak the truth.“It is bad they prevent people with divergent views from talking at or accessing holiday celebrations, despite the fact that they are national events,” he added.