Raila hits at leaders donating to Church using graft money
Opposition leader Raila Odinga has accused some politicians of using riches acquired through suspect means to fund religious causes.
Raila said it was unfortunate that some politicians were pretending to be religious and “investing in heaven” through harambees with money whose sources remain unclear.
Without mentioning names, Raila who spoke during the burial of Kiambu politician and businessman Lawrence Nginyo Kariuki asked Kenyans to fight the cancer of corruption.
President Uhuru Kenyatta was expected to attend the burial but did not due to what Attorney General Kihara Kariuki explained as unavoidable circumstances.
Kihara read Uhuru’s message of condolence in which he said Nginyo’s death had robbed the country of a great leader, a prolific politician and a multi-party crusader.
Raila said corruption had ruined the country’s economy, adding that the vice will be dealt with conclusively in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
Veiled attack
His remarks on “investing in heaven” through harambees were viewed as a veiled attack on Deputy President William Ruto, who recently vowed do everything possible stop the “reggae” saying some leaders in the BBI rallies are driving their “demonic” agenda.
Speaking in Khwisero, Kakamega county, last weekend, Ruto said BBI meetings were being used to demonise other leaders, warning that he won’t allow the forums to be used to distract the Jubilee administration’s development programmes.
But yesterday, Raila reiterated that the fight against corruption and other vices that stagnated development in the country are unstoppable.
“We want to end this cancer of corruption. We want to see Kenya playing in a higher league; not the one we are in now. Not the one where one is walking around with sacks full of money in the name of harambee and investing in heaven,” he said.
Raila said the March 9, 2018 ‘Handshake’ between him and Uhuru was aimed at ending post-election violence.
“We want to ensure that elections end on the polling day and the following day we go to work. We want to unite the country and make it possible for any Kenyan to work and live in any part of the country,” he said.
He said nothing can distract BBI and that there is no going back, adding that the initiative is the only way the country can achieve unity and tangible development.
Also present were Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi, Narc Kenya boss Martha Karua, Kiambu Governor James Nyoro, senators Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu), James Orengo (Siaya), Gideon Moi (Baringo), Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and his Transport counterpart James Macharia, MPs Peter Mwathi (Limuru) and Gathoni Wamuchoba (Kiambu Woman Rep).
Offer solutions
Orengo urged leaders to swallow their pride and talk to and with each other for the sake of posterity.
“It’s time to talk together because if we continue shouting and making noise, it will look like a theatre. It’s ludicrous and not good for the country,” he said.
Mudavadi urged leaders to emulate the Nginyo by giving solutions to the problems facing the country.
Karua, who had been denied an opportunity to address the mourners and was only able to do so after Mudavadi ceded a minute for her, challenged leaders to lead the country to prosperity and desist from praising politicians for the sake of it.
Wamalwa and Kamau urged Kenyans to support the government in the fight against corruption and tribalism and also help Uhuru to unite Kenyans.
