The Mt Kenya Times 
Raila Odinga in matatu
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- Raila Odinga, who was a co-principal, is now casting a picture of holier -than-thou. He is pretending that he was fighting for the interest of all Kenyans yet we know he is pushing a selfish and personal agenda.
- Raila knows very well that he lost the elections to President William Ruto. He has however been misleading and lying to his gullible supporters that he won the elections.
- This is in the hope that he can use them as conveyor belts to force President Ruto to share the government with him.
- As we know, this is not the first time that Raila is playing this card.
Trade and Investment Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has once again hit out at former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Azimio La Umoja-OKA party leader Raila Odinga.
This comes in the wake of anti-President William Ruto protests that rocked some parts of the country on Saba Saba (7/7) day.
The protests caused a big blow to our economy as many businesses remained closed with Nairobi, Kisii and Migori being the most affected.
The owners feared looting and being attacked. They had a good reason given that the previous demonstrations had always turned chaotic, destructive and bloody.
This time, at least six people lost their lives as the protestors engaged the police in running battles.
CS Kuria noted that this left no doubt that Azimio leader Raila Odinga was out to destroy our economy.
This is at a time when President Ruto was struggling to resuscitate and steer the economy back on track.
We know this country had been run down by the ‘handshake’ government.
When they were leaving office, the retail price of 2kg packet of maize flour (Unga) stood at Sh230. The prices of fuel and electricity were also high yet the subsidy programme was in place.
Raila Odinga, who was a co-principal, is now casting a picture of holier -than-thou. He is pretending that he was fighting for the interest of all Kenyans yet we know he is pushing a selfish and personal agenda.
Raila knows very well that he lost the elections to President William Ruto. He has however been misleading and lying to his gullible supporters that he won the elections.
This is in the hope that he can use them as conveyor belts to force President Ruto to share the government with him.
As we know, this is not the first time that Raila is playing this card.
I’m sure those who understand his history would agree with CS Kuria. He had used the same tricks to blackmail and intimidates former President Mwai Kibaki and his successor Uhuru Kenyatta.
At the time, he had his way but we recall this came with a lot of pain, suffering and grief that befell many families.
Dozens of Kenyans lost thier lives and properties worth billions of shillings were destroyed.
Kuria noted. This time Raila could not have managed to sustain the demonstrations alone without being sponsored.
We know the enemies of the Kenya Kwanza administration who were sponsoring him. He said that former President Uhuru Kenyatta was the key financier.
We know the ultimate goal of these two leaders is to remove President William Ruto from office.
This is day-dreaming. How do they hope to achieve this? Dr William Ruto wrestled them to the ground when the duo was at the helm of power.
To many, Raila’s strategy of collecting 10 million signatures was a symbolic. Article 145 of the constitution explicitly spells out the procedures for the removal of a sitting President. Collection of signatures is not one of them.
So, Raila thinks he can use this exercise to incite Kenyans with a view of staging a civilian coup against Dr Ruto.
Since he started the demonstrations, he has never hidden his intention.
However, his previous attempts to storm State House failed to bore the fruits.
This is because many Kenyans gave this plan a wide berth. Kenya is not a banana republic. It is a country governed by the constitution and rule of law. So, follow the law to the letter and spirit.
Notably, Raila was a key architecture of the current constitution that was promulgated in 2010.
During the referendum campaigns he minced no word in telling Kenyans that this was the most progressive and best document.
If you vote in support and I know you will do that, Kenya will join the league of America and South Africa. The two countries have best constitutions.
Then Raila was speaking the language of the government. This is because he had successfully maneuvered his way to occupy his seat at the high table where the national cake was being shared.
While reflecting on this, some Kenyans now aver. The ODM leader has been doing things the same way and so we do not expect different results. He is simply fighting to get his share.
We know that President Ruto has previously reiterated that he will not succumb to his political machinations of blackmail and intimidation.
But Raila actions are designed to derail and sabotage the revival of the economy. For this reason, some would call on Dr Ruto to give him a hearing. Let him come and say what he wants.
However, the president should not entertain his push for a ‘nusu mkate’.
For Kuria, he would tell the former President.
We know you are sponsoring Raila’s mandamanos in order safeguard your personal interests and those of the family.
My message to you is. Kenya is bigger than you. President Ruto and his administration is committed to address the interests of all Kenyans.
As a CS in charge of Trade, Investment and Industry, I have been making numerous working trips in many parts of the world. My main goal is to encourage the world renowned enterprenuers, big companies to come and invest in Kenya. This will help to create jobs and boost the growth of our economy.
Unfortunately, my efforts were being derailed by the Azimio led demonstrations.
As we know, the investors shun countries that are engulfed in frequent political upheavals.
They would prefer to invest in the countries where peace and unity prevails.
Kuria further recalled how Raila’s demonstrations angered and gave former president sleepless nights when he was at the helm of power.
This is because these protests were ruining the economy and hindering him from rolling out development projects and programmes aimed at rebuilding and returning the economy back on track.
For now, you have won the other shoe? You want President Ruto to fail? What do you stands to gain?
It is wrong to engage or support political activities aimed at digging the hole that Kenyans are currently in deeper.
Kuria’s parting shot. I hope former President will not provoke me. If he does, I will go to his Ichaweri home and deliver this message at the gate in a dramatic way.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi
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