Raila says he is not ready to retire

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Raila was speaking at Bumala and Matayos markets on his way to address an ODM rally in Busia town/FILE

BUSIA, May 26 – Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Saturday told off his political competitors calling for his retirement, saying he will only retire from politics when Kenyans say so through the ballot.

Noting he was ready to take on any competition in the presidential race, the PM said it was laughable for a competitor to call for his retirement hoping for an easy ride to the Presidency.

The PM was speaking at Bumala and Matayos markets in Busia county on his way to address an ODM rally in Busia town.

In response to the recent calls by the immediate former ODM deputy party leader Musalia Mudavadi that he should retire from politics with President Kibaki , Odinga made it clear that he would only retire from politics if the Kenyan voters reject him at the polls.

He said: “Any one who has plunged in the Presidential race should be ready for a bruising battle. There will be no easy rides to State House.”

The PM went on to say that he has been in the struggle for reforms in the country and had credentials to lead this country , adding that many of his competitors had nothing to show for themselves as their contribution to the betterment of the country.

“That the Kenyans should elect reform minded people who can bring the desired changes in the country not non reformists.”

He reiterated that it was only the reform minded leaders who could implement the new Constitution adding those who opposed it and the watermelons cannot be entrusted to implement something they did not believe in.

Odinga who is the ODM party leader said contrary to perceptions that the party’s popularity was waning, it was growing from strength to strength.

He said all those who had left the party had been effectively replaced and the party was marching steadily to a resounding win when elections are called .

“Their departure was good riddance and now the party is reloaded with presence in all corners of the country,” he added.

  • KAMAU2012

    ODM RELOADED. THIS TIME  ROUND NO RIGGING . TINGA TOSHA, KENYAN VERDICT IS  TINGA TOSHA

    • mekenyatoo

      Senator Macain in the US tried the new kid on the block and failed. RAO is as old as Macain. He will loose terribly

      • idukaai

         and who is the kid is it MM who has been a minister since 1989 Ruto the suspect or Uhuru son of the land grabber and murder suspect and mungiki  boss as alleged by  his witness(MP) for kabete.

  • Jjohnson10

    The closest that Raila came to the smell of state house was in 2007. He lost but he wanted to be declared a winner by force, which did not happen. When other leaders were busy trying to stop the country from burning, he was calling for mass action and spreading hate against one tribe. Half a decade later, Kenya is going to get a clean leadership coz they learned a lot in 2007. For sure we don’t know who will president, but we know who will never occupy that seat, the one who transport masses to rallies so that he can be seen to have support, the one who organizes goons to beat children and women in funerals.

    • http://www.facebook.com/beloveddan Beloved King

      Jjohnson10 1! You’re so much smarter when you don’t speak!  I mean, where were you when God was giving out common sense?

      • Ken

         Jjohnson 10, Remember there is a province which can accommodate population of 2 or 3 provinces. By the way If close friends of Raila are off him, The kingpins of Pentagon, who are we not to ditch him. He should go and rest, we need young like minded leaders not dictators.

        • chikombe

          We need like minded dictators, not upright leaders like Raila says ken and Johnson

          • Harrizonkuuyo

            stop all these madness u people ,,no one can lead in this country apart  from raila ,,acheni kuchangia baada ya kubugia pombe,, 

          • Otieno

            Dream on it will never be Raila 

          • Chikombe

            Never say never, there is always going to be a surprise under the sun; the CORD is on the roll again, they are sailng towards dry land all the way from high seas.

        • idukaai

           Its my guess that you can’t differentiate a strong willed person from a dictator just check your dictionary once again. 

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kwabubi-John/100003281201430 Kwabubi John

      Jjohnson10, why are you so bitter? If you calmed down and used your brains, you would discover that you may be wrong. May you have a sound mind not swayed by bitterness.

    • Karisasi

      Raila won in 5 provinces and Kibaki won 2 provinces then how comes Kibaki is declared the winner.
      Kibaki rigged and he should be held responsible for the blood shed that occured in 2007/8.
      If Raila was a selfish and intolerant leader he would not have accepted to sit down with a thug and form a coalition government.But he did that for the sake of Kenyans.
      You owe him my friend.

    • idukaai

       this crowd in Busia must have shocked you very much .I come from Teso  in the north of Busia town and many people will die for this man late a lone voting for him.

  • Karisasi

    Be strong Raila be strong.Coalition of accused of crimes against humanity are planning to hijack our beloved country and turn it to hell.

  • JMairura

    Raila is the best leader to be our next presdent. he has been exposing many scandals which other leaders could not talk about. cheers agwambo j

    john araka