Photo/PMPS Prime Minister Raila Odinga (right) and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka at Philip Manandu Primary School in Tseikuru District Kitui County on March 23, 2012.
By KITAVI MUTUA kitavimutua@gmail.com
Posted Friday, March 23 2012 at 22:30
Posted Friday, March 23 2012 at 22:30
Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka on Friday challenged each other to a bruising political contest.
Speaking at a memorial service for former MP Phillip Manandu in the VP’s Mwingi North constituency, each leader said he was confident of winning the presidential election and promised to accept the outcome.
Mr Musyoka, who fired the first salvo, described Mr Odinga as a worthy opponent whom he was sure to beat at the ballot. He said he hoped Mr Odinga would accept defeat this time.
“The PM is my worthy political competitor. We are friends, not enemies and I’ll be the first to congratulate him if he defeats me and I hope he’ll do the same and accept defeat,” the VP said.
Mr Odinga responded by saying he accepted the Vice President’s challenge and that he had no differences with him, other than belonging to different parties.
"People should not read too much in political competition," he said.
The two said upcoming leaders should learn from their show of mature politics and restrain erratic supporters for the country’s sake.
Mr Musyoka dismissed the likelihood of a possible reunion with Mr Odinga after being prodded by some speakers to rejoin ODM.
He said Mrs Charity Ngilu, an ally of Mr Odinga, had asked him to consider teaming up with the PM.
“Don’t be duped. There’s no possible reunion of the oranges, we’ll have to square off at the ballot,” Mr Musyoka said.
Mr Odinga also differed with Ms Ngilu on the General Election date, saying a majority of Kenyans wanted elections in December. (READ:Why MPs are split on election date)
Mrs Ngilu had asked the PM to soften his stance and support a March 4, 2012 date so that she could finish outstanding projects in her Water ministry.
Later, the PM and VP presided over the national launch of a free sanitary towels initiative where they castigated the Education ministry for withholding funds for the project despite the Treasury releasing the money last year.
They warned that disciplinary action will be taken against officials if the initiative is not rolled out to all primary schools before the end of next year.
They also pledged to ensure that a fresh inquest is launched to investigate the death of the former MP, who was gunned down by a policeman following a quarrel in 1985.
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