Uhuru: I am ready to work with Raila

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Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta addresses supporters when he arrived in Kisumu on a campaign trail that took him to Wire and Migwa ward in Oyugis on his way to Ndhiwa constituency. Mr Kenyatta said he is ready to work with Prime Minister Raila Odinga after the next polls September 11, 2012.  

By BRIAN YONGA and MOSES ODHIAMBO
Posted  Tuesday, September 11  2012 at  14:16

IN SUMMARY

• Mr Kenyatta said he will support and work with Mr Odinga if he beats the PM in next year’s General Election.
• He urged Mr Odinga to do the same if he is victorious.
• DPM says his differences with Mr Odinga were based on issues and ideology but not tribal grounds.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta has said he is ready to work with Prime Minister Raila Odinga after the next polls.

Mr Kenyatta said he will support and work with Mr Odinga if he beats the PM in next year’s General Election.

He urged Mr Odinga to do the same if he is victorious.

Mr Kenyatta said his differences with Mr Odinga were based on issues and ideology but not tribal grounds maintaining that Kenyans would ultimately choose their next president.

"If you see us competing do not think we are fighting; it is healthy competition that will be settled by you the people," Mr Kenyatta said during a a series of stop-over rallies in Kisumu town and its environs Tuesday.

"I will work and support Raila if he wins and I expect the same from him if I defeat him during the March 4 elections," he said on his way to Ndhiwa to drum up support for The National Alliance (TNA) party candidate, Rosemary Rumo.

She is among candidates seeking to capture the Ndhiwa parliamentary seat during a by-election slated for September 17.

Quit ODM

He said his decision to quit ODM before the 2007 elections was based on principle.

“I was once in ODM when we were campaigning for a better country but I left because my principles and opinions were not represented in ODM," he said.

Mr Kenyatta said he had laid rolled out a campaign plan for his presidential bid in Nyanza.

He urged the electorate not to put tribe ahead of integrity in their choice of leaders.

“We want leaders who can move us forward in matters of policy and not tribal inclinations” he said.

The DPM said he was aware that there are many aspirants for the presidency and asked them to embrace peace during their campaigns.

Warm reception

He said the government is working on modalities of entering into dialogue with the striking civil servants to get a reasonable and sustainable solution to the perennial strikes.

"As a coalition government, despite our party affiliations, we will work together as a team with the other striking unions so that we can end the suffering of our children who have not gone to school," he said.

He was accompanied by Gender minister Naomi Shaban, Nairobi Metropolitan minister Jamleck Kamau, assistant ministers Kareke Mbiuki, Ferdinand Waititu and MP Mithika Linturi.

The leaders thanked Kisumu residents for the warm reception and assured that they will return to campaign in the larger Nyanza region.

“We are happy with what the Kisumu people have shown us. This is what we call democracy and we ask all Kenyans to live peacefully," said Mr Waititu.