Tag: Raila

President Uhuru Kenyatta, his Deputy President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga have moved to calm the rising political temperatures in the country by calling for an end to divisive politics. In the past few weeks, Ruto’s allies have gone ballistic over claims Raila was using the handshake with President Kenyatta to sideline and block him from the Uhuru succession race. “We have been through very dark and trying times and we wouldn’t wish to go back there. “When I said I was leading the nation to Canaan, I meant materialising our dreams as contained in the national anthem which prays for peace, stability and plenty within our borders, that is what a Canaan is,” he said. SEE ALSO :Stop stalking us and give Kenyans a break from your 2022 obsession He asked the church to not relent in the push for good governance and equality. And in a thinly-veiled attack on senior politicians being linked to corruption, Raila told the church not top accept harambee donations and gifts from leaders whose names had been mentioned in corruption reports. Ruto, who received a warm welcome from the congregation, said the place of divisive and ethnic politics had been taken over by focus on development goals and nation building. “We want to build the country into one united family focused on service to all and the creation of opportunity for all, especially women and the youth,” said the DP. Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula and Kisumu Senator Fred Outa added their voices to the calls for an end to early politics. During the mass held at Uzima University grounds in Mamboleo, DP Ruto and Raila could be seen occasionally talking although their body languages betrayed a psychological rift between them.

A surprise handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga has stirred up Kenyan politics as the long-time rivals set their sights on the 2022 elections. Less than a year since Kenyatta was re-elected to a second and final term in a vote that Odinga called a farce, the two shook hands on March 9 after weeks of secret talks. ALSO READ: Raila, world leaders attend Winnie Mandela funeral They said their rapprochement would mean an end to the violence, bitterness and political instability that followed last year’s elections. For Odinga, it shows he feels he has more bargaining power for himself and his Luo ethnic group as Kenyatta’s partner. Avoid fake news! Text the word 'NEWS' to 22840 “Everybody has had to go back to their drawing board and decide how they are going to run in 2022,” said Ngunjiri Wambugu, a lawmaker from Kenyatta’s Jubilee party, a political alliance between his Kikuyu ethnic group and Ruto’s Kalenjin. They were united ahead of the 2013 vote by Kenyatta in his Jubilee alliance. But few observers believe the truce will resolve the deep-seated ethnic tensions as Kenyatta and Odinga have promised. The Kalenjins may be upset if Kenyatta does not let Ruto take the helm of the alliance with a view to the presidency in 2022. “This will help him to manage Gideon Moi, William Ruto and others with their own presidential ambitions.” ALSO READ: President Uhuru looks into tapping EU market