Member of Parliament has urged politicians from across the political divide to stop dragging the country’s security apparatus into their quest for power.

Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo said key security institutions, the military, National Intelligence Service and the Interior docket must be respected and allowed to perform the duties professionally and diligently so as the secure the country.

Odhiambo’s comments comes against the backdrop of allegations that fallen Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Francis Ogolla may have been assassinated. However, people alleging foul-play that led to the death of General Ogolla in military helicopter have not backed the allegations with fool-proof evidence, hence the MP’s warning that such unsupported claims were injurious to the security of the nation.

The chief of defence forces is the highest-ranking military officer in the Kenya Defence Forces and the principal military advisor to the President of Kenya and the National Security Council.

Speaking at a public rally at Kotoo village in Nguge sub-location in his constituency, Odhiambo lamented that attacks from politicians risked exposing the country to security challenges hence the need for patriotism by Kenyans from all walks of life.

He specifically singled out politicians led by the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over perennial statements that seemed to punch holes in the performance of the security agencies.  

It has been alleged that the Gen Ogolla was collateral damage in the stand-off between President Ruto and ousted Deputy President Gachagua. General Francis Ogolla died in a helicopter crash on April 18, 2024.

“I want to tell Gachagua to stop meddling in matters touching on the security of the country,” he said, adding, “The three institutions: the military, NIS and interior ministry led by Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo ensure that as a country, we are secure and can go to bed peacefully at night”.

A report released on April 11, 2025 by the ministry of defence says the Huey Helicopter KAF 1501 was assessed to have had a relatively high level of reliability, having conducted several operational and training missions, including VIP flights.

“Further, the flight was operated by qualified, competent crew. However, dependent on information from the survivors, after experiencing complete power loss, the pilots of KAF 1501 attempted to control the helicopter to a clear landing zone but lost positive control of the aircraft,” the report read.

The Gem legislator supported President Ruto’s call to Kenyans to stop reckless s talk about the country’s key security apparatus.

Meanwhile, Elisha Odhiambo challenged Siaya Governor James Orengo to account for more than Ksh7 billion ($5.4 million) that the county has received from the national government in the past two years.  The MP who has been a critic of Governor Orengo’s performance said, whereas the governor has been posing as a liberator, his management of public resources is wanting.

“In the past two years, you have received about Ksh7 billion. Show us what it has done for Siaya,” he challenged, adding that instead of development, corruption and favouritism in the procurement processes has been the order of the day.

He said that as Siaya leaders, they would not keep quiet as nepotism takes root in the county, adding that empty rhetoric could not translate into development.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Philip Onyango