Nairobi, Kenya, Mar 25-President William Ruto has called on Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leader Raila Odinga to return the favour to him by backing the Kenya kwanza administration instead of organizing protests.
President Ruto said Saturday in Migori that Odinga should call off the planned anti-government protest as a show of gratitude to him for the sacrifices he made for him in his quest to clinch the country’s top seat in 2007.
The Head of State recalled how he stood with Odinga during tough times in his political journey including being charged at the Hague-based International Criminal Court because of the 2007-2008 post-election violence.
“I suffered so much because of him (Odinga). I am appealing to Odinga while here in Nyanza. Please tone down. I supported you, I voted for you to the point I was taken to the Hague. Now it’s your time to return the favor,” Ruto said amidst applause from the crowd,” he said.
Ruto said that instead of organizing mass protests against his administration, Odinga should instead plan to vote him in for the second term in 2027 to ‘’even things out.”
He went on to say that Nyanza will not be left out in regard to the development projects.
The Head of State assured that he will not allow any individual to divide any Kenyan from any part of the country because of politics.
The head of State said that every Kenyan has a right to equal access to resources regardless of their political inclination.
“Kenyans made their decision during the August 2022 polls, we are done with the polls and all that is remains is prepare for development,” he said.
President Ruto said that he will work with all the leaders that Kenyans voted into office and pledged an all-inclusive government.
He pledged to pump more resources to develop the Nyanza region just like other parts of the country
“I will ensure that nobody takes the people of Nyanza in the opposite direction from the government. You are entitled to government services as every other Kenyan is entitled,” he said.
The Head of State vowed to be deliberate in uniting all Kenyans to confront all the challenges as united nation.
Last week on march 19, President Ruto said he will not engage “anarchists” but he is ready for talks with Leaders keen on national development.
Speaking in Nandi County during an interdenominational church service, the Head of State told off opposition leader Raila Odinga whom he accused of seeking to hold the country at ransom for his own political interests.
“I am ready to engage with any leader if we are discussing the future of our country, the destination of our nation in a constitutional and legal manner. But we are not going to engage in anarchy,” President Ruto said.
“You will not threaten us with ultimatums, chaos and violence. We will be rewarding impunity if we were to succumb to ultimatums and chaos. We will not,” he asserted.
President Ruto stated that Odinga had no genuine reasons to call for demonstrations.
He said the Azimio leader was only seeking for a political deal with the current administration through chaos and mayhem.
“Raila Odinga has no reason whatsoever to terrorize the country with chaos, demonstrations and violence. He has absolutely no reason. I have tried to listen to him he has none,” said President Ruto.
“He is telling us that he does not believe in Supreme Court, he does not believe in IEBC but he believes in a [faceless] whistleblower and that is why he wants to terrorize the country with chaos and violence.”
