Kalonzo faults Ruto for ordering MPs to 'toe the line'

He termed the directive as dictatorial, adding that legislators who are the voice of Kenyans should speak up on issues and challenges facing the country.

On Monday, Ruto directed legislators allied to the Kenya Kwanza government to toe the line and support all government agendas including the controversial affordable housing bill.

A group of MPs recently joined the opposition in demanding for the release of NG-CDF cash, a point that did augur well with the Executive.

Kalonzo however took issue with the Presidential directive noting that leaders should be given a chance to air their grievances.

“The President has directed legislators from the Kenya Kwanza side to toe the line or face consequences and at this time and age, this borders on dictatorial powers,” he said.

Kalonzo was speaking in Lake Naivasha Resort during the Institute of Certified Secretaries (ICS) forum that has brought together members of the County Public service boards.

Incidentally, the President is in the same hotel for the third day of the Cabinet meeting.

Addressing members of the board, Kalonzo expressed his concern over the skewed recruitment of members of the defense forces with few tribes benefitting.

He termed this as a recipe for chaos in the coming years and pointed to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where there has been ongoing tensions. 

“The recruitment of the defense forces is openly skewed towards some few tribes and this is a major mistake that the government is making,” he said.

In his speech, Kalonozo noted that a recent study indicated that ten tribes in the country had taken over 80 percent job opportunities in the counties.

“The situation has been made worse by falsified academic documents where recent reports indicated that 1,280 workers had fake education certificates,” he said.

Kalonzo, who is Azimio La Umoja co-principal, called on members of the County Public service boards to rise above politics and hire workers based on merit.

He sarcastically warned the country to be ready for all manner of workers following the move by the President to make the country Visa-free.

On his part, ICS Chairman Joshua Wambua said that they were keen to address the issue of good governance with members of the County Public service boards.

Others who spoke were Nicodemus Muteti, a member of ICS who called for financial independence of the County Public service boards.