Don’t dare insult Uhuru and Raila, leaders tell Ruto
ODM leader Raila Odinga’s allies have asked Deputy President William Ruto to respect their leader or risk being locked out of certain areas.
Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho said Ruto must respect Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta if he wants to hold campaign rallies in their backyards.
Joho said every Kenyan has a right to hold rallies in any part of the country but they will not allow insults on their leaders.
“We want to tell Ruto not to talk ill of Raila and if he dares do so, we as his foot soldiers will force him to respect him,” said Joho.
He said that by attacking Uhuru, he was attracting the wrath of Raila’s foot soldiers.
“In Mombasa, he is not fit to be our president. Raila is not his age mate and he should respect him if he wants to be president in future,” the governor said.
Speaking while drumming up support for Azimio La Umoja at Kolalo grounds in Ugunja, Siaya, Joho said Raila was the country’s best bet to take over from Uhuru.
Joho at the same time took a swipe at Ruto’s wheelbarrow movement saying it was a joke.
“Ruto has been in government since 2013 and is now promising to give youths wheelbarrows,” said Joho.
He was accompanied by Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga, Senator James Orengo (Siaya), Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, Senator Ledama Ole Kina (Narok) Kieni MP Kanini Kega, Murang’a woman Rep Sabina Chege and Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo.
“I have not come here to market Raila in his backyard for you know that among the presidential contenders nobody can match the former premier,” said Joho.
Orengo accused Ruto of turning the government into a cash cow.
“Ruto is fighting for the presidency to use it as a cash box and it is through the ballot box that we will lock him out and save the public coffers,” he said.
Mt Kenya region
Ole Kina said Ruto’s bitterness and his track record had ruined his chances of being elected president.
Kega accused Ruto of disrespecting Uhuru even as he seeks Mt Kenya region votes.
“For showing disrespect to President Uhuru Kenyatta who made you DP, we shall accord you the same treatment whenever you scale Mount Kenya,” said Kega.
Chege urged residents of Nyanza to turn out in large numbers on August 9 and vote Raila as the fifth president.
“It is Raila who can level the playing field for all of us and that’s why we have abandoned our duties and pitched tent in Siaya and Nyanza at large to support initiatives that would increase votes that will be cast in favour of Raila,” she added.
