He help*d himself- Raila dismisses Ruto’s claims that he made him Pr*me Minister
ODM leader Raila Odinga has dismissed claims by Deputy President William Ruto that he helped him become Prime Minister after the 2007 General Elections.
Raila, who spoke to a local radio station, told off the DP saying he did not help him in any way.
According to Raila, the DP should stop claiming that he has been helping other leaders whom he teamed up with in pursuit of political power.
“I have heard Deputy President William Ruto saying that he helped me, late retired President Daniel Moi and even President Uhuru Kenyatta. Who is he that he has helped all these people?” Raila posed while speaking to Radio Citizen.
The ODM leader further added that his presidential bid in the 2007 General Election was a product of a democratic process that saw him emerge the outright winner of a nomination exercise.
He says his candidature was not a favour extended to him since he contested for the ODM ticket together with DP Ruto, ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and other people.
The former Prime Minister notes that they worked together as a team and won the polls but their victory was snatched leading to the formation of a grand coalition government.
“In the build-up to 2007 General Elections, we went to Kasarani for nomination. I won, Mudavadi became second and he (Ruto) was third. We won the polls but our victory was stolen. That is why we formed a grand coalition government,” he added.
Raila said he rewarded DP Ruto for his contribution to the ODM team by making him an agriculture minister in the coalition government.
He urged the DP to stop saying he helped people since he has benefited from his contribution to a political team that he has played a role in.
“I gave him a big ministry of agriculture which had 42 parastatals. He never helped me, he helped himself,” he said.
The DP has been vocal about him helping the ODM leader to become the country’s second prime minister.
He is also on record saying he helped President Uhuru to become the fourth president of the Republic of Kenya.
According to the DP, he has done enough helping others and it is, therefore, his turn to go for the Presidential seat in the 2022 General Elections.
