Mt Kenya UDA MPs Turn Against Hassan Omar After Controversial Remarks
A fresh political storm has blown up within the ruling party after a group of lawmakers from the Mt Kenya region called for Hassan Omar to step down as Secretary General of United Democratic Alliance.
The lawmakers let rip during a press briefing on Wednesday, May 27, and basically dismissed Omar’s apology over those comments he made about land ownership in the Coast region. They’re saying his remarks were a form of ethnic profiling & that they are simply unacceptable coming from a leader in a national outfit like UDA.
UDA Lawmakers Reject Omar’s Apology
The MPs were clear – Kenya’s Constitution gives every citizen the run of the country, the right to live, work, own property and start a business in any part of the country they want without fear of being bullied or singled out because of where they come from.
In a statement that shows just how fed up they are, the legislators made it plain they’re no longer interested in hearing Omar’s side of the story.
“Look any other community in this country, Kenya’s a democracy and every citizen’s got the right to live, work, own property and do business wherever they want across the whole country without being targeted because of who they are. As leaders, here’s what we’re saying: you’re out, we don’t want to hear any of your excuses, that half-baked apology is not gonna cut it, we want nothing but the immediate resignation of Hassan Omar as Secretary-General of the UDA party,” the UDA lawmakers made it plain.
This move is a sign of just how much internal pressure is building in the ruling party with some leaders now calling for disciplinary action, rather than trying to patch things up politically.
48-Hour Ultimatum Issued
Lawmakers put the squeeze on Hassan Omar handing him a straight choice – resign from his position within 48 hours or face the music from the party leadership.
According to the MPs – failure to step down will see them petitioning President William Ruto to make the moves necessary to boot Omar from his job through proper party channels.
“If Hassan Omar doesn’t voluntarily give up his job within the next 48 hours, we’re going straight to the party leader (President William Ruto) and get him to start the process of officially booting him from office – simple as that” they made it clear.
For Omar though – its now all but certain he is right in the middle of one of the biggest internal party disputes in recent months.
Lawmakers Back NCIC Investigations
The MPs also threw their full weight behind the investigations being led by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission into alleged hate speech and ethnic incitement linked to Omar’s remarks.
They say that no matter what your status is – leaders have to be held accountable and that we can’t let divisive talk get a free pass in national politics.
“We fully back the NCIC probe and demand that the charges of hate speech and ethnic incitement are pursued to the end – I mean it goes without saying but we have all at some point called out our own community members for bad behaviour and they took the fall – gave in to the consequences of their actions” they stressed.
Political Tensions Rise Within UDA
The stand off with Omar exposes just how deep the divisions have sunk inside the ruling coalition – and with land ownership, regional politics and ethnic relations at the forefront of Kenyan politics – it looks like we are far from seeing the back of this one.
Whether Omar chooses to ride out the storm or gets stuck into politics head on will have a big say in how things unfold from here
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Mt Kenya UDA MPs Turn Against Hassan Omar After Controversial Remarks
