Senator Janet Ong’era has termed the violence that rocked Kakamega town on Saturday as ‘backward’ and challenged Cord leaders to contain their supporters in major functions.
At least two people were reportedly injured during the colorful Presidential launch of Cord Principal and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula.
In her official Facebook account, Ong’era blamed local leadership for ‘settling’ political scores in a national function giving Cord opponents chance to ridicule the coalition’s style of leadership.
“As a senior Cord leader, I would like to condemn the Kakamega violence with strongest terms possible. The violence was backward and unwarranted and as a leader, I am really embarrassed,” she said.
“It’s unfair for local leadership to settle political scores on a national function giving our competitors a loophole to criticise our mode of operation. That culture must stop because some internal leadership wrangles can be solved in a better manner,” Ong’era added.
The Senate Minority Deputy Whip challenged Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Senator Bonny Khalwale to solve their differences without necessarily involving members of the public.
“I am emotional because we can do better as a coalition. Our opponents seized the opportunity to spread propaganda that Cord is disintegrating which isn’t the case,” she added.
“The competition was between Governor Oparanya and Senator Khalwale and we all know that. They should learn to solve their internal issues without necessarily involving members of the public. Cord Unity is important than our individual needs,” said the former ODM Chief executive.
She called for political tolerance within the coalition arguing that it will be ‘fundamental’ in 2017 general elections.