NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 29 – Deputy President William Ruto says CORD leader Raila Odinga is not his political competitor since he did not contest the presidency in 2013.
Speaking at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Bondo on Sunday, Ruto stated that he only competed with Kalonzo Musyoka who was Odinga’s running mate and beat him fair and square.
He pointed out that if the CORD leader nominated Musyoka again in 2017 as his running mate, he will still trounce him.
“You all know that I supported him (Odinga) in 2007 to an extent that I almost landed in jail. In 2013, he competed with President Uhuru Kenyatta and they will do the same in 2017,” he said. “I only competed with his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka and beat him. And if Raila nominates Kalonzo again in 2017 as his running mate I will beat him again.”
During the function, the Deputy President also urged Kenyans to discourage politics of animosity.
He emphasised that politics should not be used to create enmity among Kenyans but be viewed as uniting factor of all the Kenyan ethnic communities.
“Even as we do politics, we should respect one another. We should discourage politics of enmity if we are to attain a united country free from tribalism and negative ethnicity,” he stated.
He stated the need for unity and support for the Government in taking the country to the next level.
“With elections behind us, it is now time to shelve our political parties’ affiliations and work together towards realizing the agenda we have for the country,” he said.
The Deputy President cautioned politicians against wasting time in empty rhetoric and instead urged them to work together in delivering results to Kenyans.
“Kenyans voted for us (leaders) so that we transform their lives and improve the country’s economy,” he stated.
He further assured that the Jubilee administration will not discriminate against any community on the basis of how they voted during the last General Election.
“We are ready to work with leaders in all parts of the country irrespective of party affiliations,” he said. Jubilee administration is a Government of all Kenyans and we will work with all for the benefit of this nation.”
He stressed that Kenyans should embrace mature politics where leaders were free to tour any part of the country without any fear.
Ruto also expressed the government’s commitment to ensuring the success of devolution as stipulated in the constitution.