Prime minister Raila Odinga (left) hands over the signed performance contract to education minister Prof Sam Ongeri (centre) during a function where permanent secretaries were signing performance contracts at KICC on February 20 2012. PHOTO / PHOEBE OKALL 

Foreign Affairs minister Sam Ongeri on Sunday dismissed claims by joint Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo that he was among those allegedly plotting to assassinate Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Prof Ongeri said that his style of politics was founded on professionalism and Christianity and “allegations made by Mr Midiwo are wild and baseless. If he has anything to tell Kenyans, he should come clear and say it”.
On Saturday, Mr Midiwo alleged that a meeting was held last Sunday, which brought together two ministers, a senior security officer and a permanent secretary during which elimination of Mr Odinga was discussed as the last option in clearing the presidential succession race.
The Gem MP claimed that mercenaries had been hired to execute the plot.
He spoke in the presence of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers Anyang’ Nyong’o (Medical Services), Dalmas Otieno (Public Service) and James Orengo (Lands) during the burial of Dr Leah Gondi in Bondo District.
Contacted afterwards, Mr Odinga’s spokesman Dennis Onyango said that the PM heard about the alleged plot for the first time at the funeral.
Mr Midiwo, however, said that the President was not in the picture about the plot.
The Gem MP sensationally named Prof Ongeri and his ministry as being used to hatch the assassination plan.
This is not the first time MPs are alleging a plot by mercenaries to assassinate Mr Odinga.
Two mercenaries
In February last year, ODM MPs claimed that two foreign mercenaries, ‘Paul’ and ‘Thomas’, who were likened to the Artur brothers, were in the country to execute their mission. They claimed that the mercenaries also targeted four other leaders.
Nominated MP Millie Odhiambo first raised the alarm over the presence of the alleged mercenaries, saying their targets included Mr Odinga, National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende, MPs Olago Aluoch, Ababu Namwamba and herself.
However, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere allayed fears over the PM’s security even as he ordered police bosses in the districts to deploy reinforcement whenever the PM was visiting their areas.
In 2006, Mr Odinga alerted the country to the presence of what he described then as “Russian mercenaries,” who turned out to be the controversial Artur brothers — Artur Sargasyan and Artur Margaryan.
The two were later linked to Standard Group raid.