Raila: I’m not yet ready to quit active politics

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Prime Minister Raila Odinga during a past interview with the Nation. Photo  Nation Media Group

By LUCAS BARASA lbarassa@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Tuesday, September 4  2012 at  22:17

IN SUMMARY

• Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and his supporters have urged him to retire with President Kibaki who is serving his last term
• He told his rivals to prepare for a tough battle in the coming General Election. He said next year’s polls would be a rematch of the 2007 presidential election.
• He said Kenyans would start enjoying the fruits of the Constitution after next year’s elections.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has dismissed calls that he retires from active politics with President Kibaki.

Mr Odinga said he was ready to contest next year’s presidential elections.

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and his supporters have urged him to retire with President Kibaki who is serving his last term. (READ: Mudavadi asks PM to quit with Kibaki)

Mr Odinga told a rally in Isinya, Kajiado North Constituency, that he was not ready to retire.

The PM was in Kajiado North on Monday to campaign for ODM candidate Peter Mositet in the September 17 by-election.

He told his rivals to prepare for a tough battle in the coming General Election. He said next year’s polls would be a rematch of the 2007 presidential election.

“You know what happened during the 2007 elections. You turned up in large numbers to vote for me only for the votes to be bungled in Nairobi, making people chant ‘No Raila No peace’. I have now returned to the field,” Mr Odinga said.

He said Kenyans would start enjoying the fruits of the Constitution after next year’s elections.

Mr Odinga, who earlier campaigned in various parts of Kajiado North including Ewaso Kedong before holding a final rally in Kitengela, warned civil servants against involvement in politics.

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Mr Odinga said he had the solution for problems facing Kenyans, including unemployment. “I have the will, intent and the capacity to bring change to this country,” he said.

He said Kenya had lagged behind in development since independence due to bad leadership and tribalism.

The ODM leader said the huge infrastructure development going on in the country was as a result of the party whose main priority was to improve infrastructure.

“If the development is not because of ODM, why didn’t they do it before,” Mr Odinga said.

Heritage Minister William ole Ntimama said it was only Mr Odinga who could ensure justice for all and implement the Constitution.