Raila endorses Jubilee candidate ahead of Utawala by-election
Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has endorsed a Jubilee party candidate for the Utawala Ward seat ahead of the by-election slated for December 8, 2022.
Addressing a roadside rally in Utawala, Nairobi, on Sunday, December 4, the ODM party leader said the Azimio coalition will rally behind Patrick Karani in his quest to represent the Ward.
"We have come here to support Karani. I urge you to vote for Karani in the upcoming by-election," Raila said.
Election for Utawala MCA seat was suspended in August following the death of Michael Mwathi Gitonga, who was one of the candidates cleared to vie.
Meanwhile, Raila on Sunday also dismissed claims that the Azimio coalition had disintegrated.
The former Prime Minister told the residents that the coalition was strong and would continue to fight injustice in the country.
"We in Azimio remain united so disregard whatever you have been reading in the newspapers. Azimio has not disintegrated. We remain united and will forge ahead as one team," Raila said adding that Jubilee party leader Uhuru Kenyatta and his Wiper counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka were aware of his visit to the area.
At the same time, Raila insisted that he won the August presidential election by far. He claimed that his victory was stolen by the Kenya Kwanza administration in collaboration with some officials of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
He vowed to continue with nationwide rallies to protest against a plot to kick out four commissioners who rejected presidential results announced by IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati on August 15.
The first rally will be held at the Kamukunji Grounds on December 7.
Earlier, President William Ruto accused the opposition leader of a plot to destabilise the country with violence.
Speaking during an interdenominational church service at the University of Embu on Sunday, December 3, the Head of State, however, stated that he won't be destructed in his plans to implement the Kenya Kwanza Alliance's campaign manifesto.
He said the protests were not new and promised to provide the opposition leaders with enough security to avoid violence and destruction.
In an apparent ridicule, President Ruto revealed that he had instructed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to engage the opposition on their demonstration plans with a view of getting a schedule ahead of their first rally.
"I have asked Interior CS Prof Kithure Kindiki to ask Azimio to give him their schedule of demonstrations so that we provide enough security to avoid the destruction of people's property," Ruto said, arousing laughter and giggles.
"They can demonstrate every day, once a week, every month and for how many years. We want to know. because we are used to them. We will remain focused whether there are demonstrations or not."
He affirmed that the demonstrations would not hold the country back.
"They can plan all they want but I want to promise them that Kenya is not going to remain the same. You will not blackmail this nation. You will not threaten the people of Kenya because we are determined to move the country forward and you will not hold us back," Ruto added.
The President on Friday appointed a nine-member tribunal led by Court of Appeal Judge Aggrey Muchelule to inquire into the petitions seeking the removal of IEBC Vice-chair Juliana Cherera and commissioners Irene Masit, Justus Nyang’aya and Francis Wanderi.
The four rejected the presidential results, claiming the final tallying of the results was opaque.
The four also filed affidavits supporting Azimio’s unsuccessful petition challenging Ruto’s win at the Supreme Court.
