Raila woos Murang'a party delegates

Prime Minister Raila Odinga greets central Kenya ODM delegates at Murang'a Teachers Training College on Monday. He said he had worked closely with Kikuyus his entire political career. [Photo: Boniface Gikandi/Standard]

By Boniface Gikandi

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has termed as propaganda allegations that he is part of a plot to have four Kenyans tried at The Hague.

He said it was Parliament that had recommended post-election violence suspects be tried at the International Criminal Court.

"President Kibaki and I on several occasions tried to persuade MPs to recommend establishment of a local tribunal, but that fell on deaf ears. They said ‘Don’t be vague, let’s go to The Hague’," said Raila.

The PM also assured that he was ready to compete with his deputy Musalia Mudavadi for the Orange Democratic Movement party presidential nomination.

Raila said ODM had emerged as the ‘most organised and reform-oriented’ political party in the country hence he has no intention of blocking rivals eyeing the presidency.

He was speaking at Murang’a Teachers Training College in Murang’a County where he met ODM delegates from central Kenya region.

Raila warned leaders from other political parties to stop meddling in ODM’s affairs, citing cases where some people were urging Mudavadi to walk out over claims the nomination process would be rigged.

Noisemakers

"Why are they bothered with ODM politics yet we conducted our elections last year? They are making noise and their parties are yet to comply," noted Raila, adding that he was a reform-oriented person whose track record spoke for itself.

"I have never wronged anyone and that’s why those without good track records are ganging up under ambiguous names such as G7, G47, KKK Alliance to undermine me on grounds of being a tribalist.

"I have worked closely with Kikuyus my whole political career; with leaders like Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia and recently President Kibaki," said Raila.

Assistant minister Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, MPs Alfred Khang’ati, Nicholas Gumbo, Martin Ogindo and Fred Outa accompanied Raila.

They drummed up support for the PM, saying he had proved he could work for the good of all Kenyans.