ODM leader Raila Odinga has castigated the Jubilee government for planning to reprimand Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo for insulting the President.
Millie asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to stop harassing Kenyans by barring MPs from accessing Parliament for a special sitting on Tuesday.
She further alleged that the President rigged the 2013 general election and was therefore not elected.
More on this: [VIDEO] Kenyans react to Millie Odhiambo's remarks that Uhuru is 'a fake President'
But Raila defended the MP saying she was motivated by the protection of the people's rights and should not be punished.
He also noted that Uhuru called him a "mad man" during his tour of former Central Province two weeks ago but that he did not take any action.
“They should not get indignant when they are corrected since they also hurl insults but no action is taken against them. Millie was fighting for the rights of Kenyans,” he said.
Regarding the election laws, the opposition leader told a rally at Homa Bay High school on Wednesday that changes will not be permitted.
He said by-elections in four wards have shown that the electronic voter identification system cannot operate without hitches.
“The by-elections were conducted (by digital systems) in areas considered remote. We can use satellite to avert the electoral malpractices Jubilee is trying to avoid," he said.
Raila said there will be no general election next August if Parliament amends the laws to pave way for manual voter identification.
“We understand what the manual process entails and cannot allow ourselves to go back to it. That’s why people like Millie are out to save this save country,” he said.
Members of the Minji Minji na UhuRuto women's group during a demonstration in Kiambu county against Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo, whom they said should apologise for insulting President Uhuru Kenyatta, December 21, 2016. /STANLEY NJENGA
Read more: Cord MPs walk out of special sitting as Jubilee's pass contentious election laws
MPs John Mbadi (Suba) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay woman representative) pledged to block any amendment tot he laws.
“We will not sit back and watch while the Jubilee administration brings contravening bills to Parliament. In that I’m ready to be associated with my sister Millie,” said Mbadi, who is the party's national chairman.
Wanga told off Gatundu MP Moses Kuria for "disrespecting" women. She said Jubilee was ready to take action against those who criticise yet has done little to reprimand the corrupt.
“We don’t want double speech. Jubilee leaders cannot tell us that they are looking for Millie yet no action has been taken against those smeared with NYS scandals,” she said.
Read: Moses Kuria threatens to assault Millie Odhiambo with broken bottle for insulting Uhuru
Members of the Minji Minji na UhuRuto women's group during a demonstration in Kiambu county against Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo, whom they said should apologise for insulting President Uhuru Kenyatta, December 21, 2016. /STANLEY NJENGA
Kiambu's UhuRuto women's group condemns Millie
A women's group demonstrated in Kiambu town on Wednesday saying they were angered by Millie's remarks against the President.
The group named 'Minji Minji na UhuRuto' warned the MP against insulting Uhuru, saying this had become the norm yet she has never been punished.
Leader Margaret Waithera demanded an apology by the legislator saying they would take matters into their own hands if she did not.
"The MP has insulted the President before yet no action was taken against her. We say as women that enough is enough and warn her [against the habit],"said their
Ngewa MCA Karungo Wa Thangwa said National Cohesion and Integration commission chairman Francis ole Kaparo should take action against Millie.
"The President is the symbol of unity in this country. Attacking him with insults is a sign of ignorance and inciting Kenyans against each other," said Thangwa.
Local leader Anthony Ikonya said members of the public will retaliate once the opposition starts inciting them by insulting leaders in Jubilee.
"Leaders should be careful about what they utter in public. The country should never again go back to violence due to political differences," he said.
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