Join my camp for 2017 polls, Raila tells Ruto
Cord leader Raila Odinga on Friday extended an olive branch to Deputy President William Ruto saying that he was ready and willing to work with him in the run-up to the 2017 elections.
Mr Odinga, however, called on Mr Ruto to stop criticising Cord co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka on grounds that he is a ‘weak’ politician to help the former Prime Minister win an election.
“I want to tell Mr Ruto to stop undermining Kalonzo because he (Kalonzo) is not in Cord by invitation but as an equal partner. Ruto should be ready to battle out with him in the next general elections,” said Mr Odinga.
Last Sunday while on a tour of Nyanza region, the DP urged Mr Odinga to drop Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka as his running mate in 2017 or face defeat, as was the case in the 2013 election.
Mr Ruto said he does not understand why Mr Odinga is bitter with him, yet they have never contested against each other.
ICC CHARGES
The Cord leader who was speaking at Saroiyot village in Kesses Constituency, Uasin Gishu during the burial of the County ODM Women League Chairlady Margaret Jepkoech Kimurgong, 46, said that he does not hold any grudge against Mr Ruto.
He further said that he was not behind crimes against humanity case facing Mr Ruto and former radio journalist Joshua arap Sang at the International Criminal Court.
“I am not a mad person to have taken my brother Ruto to ICC because he was my person during the 2007 General Election.
“In fact I was the one behind the formation of a local tribunal but his fellow leaders from the Rift Valley region insisted on ICC saying: Let us not be vague let us go to the Hague,” added Mr Odinga.
Other MPs who attended were Oscar Sudi (Kapseret) and Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem). Raila’s daughter Rosemary Odinga and ODM officials Kipkorir Menjo and David Songok also attended the function.