ODM must stay united to honour Raila, says Speaker Wetang’ula

Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula/X

Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula on Friday urged ODM leaders to resolve what he described as ‘internal conflicts threatening the cohesion of the party’ founded by the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Speaking during the official opening of the Nambale Urban Primary and Junior Secondary School in Busia County, Wetang’ula said that ODM can only truly honour Raila’s legacy by remaining united.

He urged party members to rally behind the broad-based government established for the sake of national stability and cohesion.

“ODM can only truly honour Raila’s legacy by remaining united and rallying behind the broad-based government he helped to craft in the interest of national stability and cohesion,” Wetang’ula said.

On the same occasion, the Speaker expressed support for President William Ruto’s directive allowing Grade 10 students to be admitted to school without the full set of requirements.

Wetang’ula noted that the move provides critical relief to parents from poor and vulnerable backgrounds.

He emphasised the need for local administrations to implement the directive effectively.

“The local administration must strictly enforce this directive by cracking down on parents who keep eligible learners at home to guarantee a 100 per cent transition,” he said.

The Speaker urged the Ministry of Education to disregard divisive sentiments from some leaders, noting that national schools are funded by taxpayers and are equipped with top facilities and teachers.

“National schools were built using taxpayers’ money and equipped with top facilities and teachers, making them symbols of national unity and must admit students from all parts of the country,” he added.

Wetang’ula further appealed to the Luhya community to unite behind President Ruto. He described this as the most strategic path to national leadership at the end of the President’s second term.

He also encouraged residents in border areas to take advantage of relaxed regulations for national identity cards to register as voters.

“I continue to appeal to the Luhya community to unite behind President Ruto, noting that this remains the most strategic path to national leadership at the end of his second term, while urging residents in border areas to take advantage of relaxed national identity card regulations to acquire the documents and register as voters,” he said.

The Speaker’s address highlighted education, national cohesion, and political unity as key priorities, underscoring his position on the importance of inclusive policies and adherence to national directives.