Raila to rivals: See you at the ballot

Prime Minister Raila Odinga says he does not fear facing the alliance created by Uhuru, Kalonzo and Ruto because ODM is the party to beat in 2012 contest. Photo/FILE 

By EMEKA MAYAKA GEKARA
Posted  Saturday, May 14 2011 at 22:30

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has fired a warning shot at his political opponents — prepare for a tough fight in next year’s General Election.

Saying he was not afraid of facing politicians forming an alliance to stop him from succeeding President Kibaki next year, the PM said he does not feel besieged by the those ganging up on him.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Sunday Nation, Mr Odinga also dismissed claims that he had lost considerable support in ODM strongholds like the Rift Valley, arguing instead that his party had made significant inroads in regions like central Kenya and Eastern Province which have traditionally not supported him.

“I am not afraid of my opponents at all. I don’t fear competition. Politics without competition will be a dull game,” he said.

The PM accused his opponents of peddling what he called misinformation over the possible prosecution of some individuals at the International Criminal Court with the aim of discrediting his presidential campaign.

Speaking candidly about his perceived dwindling political fortunes since the appearance of the Ocampo Six at The Hague-based court, Mr Odinga accused his opponents of spreading lies and propaganda and dismissed claims that he influenced the choice of the post-election violence suspects.

“My other name is not judge Philip Waki or Kofi Annan. I rooted for a local tribunal together with President Kibaki. We voted for it three times, but the tribunal was rejected by those now saying I took them to The Hague.”

Accusing finger

Without mentioning any names, the PM appeared to point an accusing finger at Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto who have openly declared political war against him.

The two presidential aspirants have joined forces with Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka to craft an alliance aimed at thwarting Mr Odinga in 2012.

Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto are among six individuals the ICC prosecutor wants tried over the 2007-2008 post-election violence, and they blame Mr Odinga for their predicament.

Others are Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura, former Police Commissioner Hussein Ali, suspended Cabinet minister Henry Kosgey, and radio journalist Joshua Sang.

Mr Odinga said the process of implementation of the new Constitution was on track and defended Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba over accusations that he was being used to frustrate the process.

He said Mr Namwamba was being targeted for protesting President Kibaki’s subsequently aborted nomination of key constitutional officers.

Mr Odinga, who spoke on a wide range of issues, appeared to blame the military for attacks on Kenyans at the Kenya-Ethiopia border.

Excerpts

Q: ODM is no longer the strong party it used to be since some of its members have switched loyalty in Parliament. Has this not severely weakened your influence in the House?

A: That is a far-fetched argument. There are disagreements in all political parties. Politics without disagreements will be a dull game.

Q: Given the difficulties facing you, ranging from the rebellion in your party and loss of support in some parts of the country, is the Prime Minister finally cornered?

A: I am not under siege. Politics is very dynamic. You start by making a friend, more others and an alliance based on principles.

It is progressive movement. We started with Ford, moved to Ford Kenya, NDP, Narc, ODM, and we’re moving to the next level.

It is political movement, not individuals. In the progression, we gained more friends than we have lost.

Q: How do you plan to regain the ground you have lost in places such as the Rift Valley?

A: We have not lost support... Instead we have broadened our base beyond our traditional strongholds.

Opinion polls show that ODM now has presence in regions such as Central and Eastern provinces.

ODM still remains the most popular party. I am the leader of ODM. How then can you say that I have lost support. I am with the people.

We have lost a few individuals because they are interested in the presidency, and I wish them well.

However, most of the MPs shouting against us in Parliament are one-term MPs who may not see Parliament again.

They are not with the people. Find out how much support they have on the ground.

Some of them have strong opponents who are working with us. They don’t speak for the people. I am comfortable that we’re with the people.

Q: But you are most certainly facing a more formidable opposition since those you worked with in the 2007 have ganged up against you.

A: I am not afraid by opponents ganging up around tribal alliances. I am not discouraged by such people. They don’t own the people.

And I don’t fear competition. Politics without competition will be a dull game. The more the merrier.

My only concern is that their politics is not based on any fundamental issues. And they can’t explain what wrong Raila has done to them. You ask them.

They are saying you took them to the International Criminal Court with the intention of eliminating them from the next presidential election.

That is propaganda and disinformation, and I have been reluctant to respond to it. Those saying so are people who underrate the intelligence of Kenyans.

My other name is not Judge Philip Waki or Kofi Annan. Kenyans know what transpired. I rooted for a local tribunal together with President Kibaki.

We voted for it three times, but the tribunal was rejected by those now saying I took them to The Hague. But propaganda has its limits.

Someone said you can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all the people all the time.

My opponents are successful students of Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler’s minister of propaganda. He believed that a lie repeated many times begins to sound like the truth.

Not in the near future, but the government is trying to cushion the local consumers from the high prices. As long as the crisis in the Middle East persists, we will continue to experience difficulties. The solution is less dependence on fossil fuel.

Comment on the recent killing of Kenyans living near the Ethiopia border and the tension in Lake Victoria triggered by Uganda over disputed islands.

On the Ethiopia border raid: It is unfortunate that Kenyans are losing lives in their own territory. It is a lapse in security, especially by our defence forces which have the constitutional mandate to deal with external aggression.

We are capable of defending our territory. I will prepare a report which I will present to Cabinet over the security matter. We’ll seek compensation and resettlement of the victims for the victims.

The survey on the islands in Lake Victoria which have been the cause of friction with Uganda is almost complete, and we are confident of a solution. So, too, for the Kenya-Sudan border.