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Odinga has been at the centre of a storm over VIP treatment/FELIX MAGARA

Kenya

Who needs VIP treatment, asks Raila

Odinga has been at the centre of a storm over VIP treatment/FELIX MAGARA

Odinga has been at the centre of a storm over VIP treatment/FELIX MAGARA

MAKUENI, Kenya, Jun 25 – In his trademark fashion of using illustrations to make a point, the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said he is not looking for any VIP treatment.

The former PM’s assertion follows allegations by his aides that he was denied entry into the VIP lounge at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and parliamentary debate on what benefits Odinga and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka should enjoy on the basis of their previous posts.

“Kalonzo and I do not need people telling us that we cannot access the VIP lounge. You can throw a turtle into water supposing it to be a tortoise and looking to torture it but only come to find that it is most at home in the water,” he said at Kethi Kilonzo’s political unveiling ceremony in Wote town of Makueni county.

Adding: “I will not try and sweet talk anybody. I have no problem interacting with other Kenyans, how else will I know what troubles them and what I can do to help? I would have no problem even selling mandazis in Kibera.”

In the same vein, the former premier reiterated that he is not looking for President Uhuru Kenyatta to give him a job adding that he had not retired from politics either.

“CORD managed to get 24 Governors into office and it is my duty to ensure their counties grow faster than the others,” he said.

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) principal did not hesitate to take on President Kenyatta’s government on the strike notice issued by teachers either.

“How do you buy laptops before you pay teachers?” he asked rhetorically, “how do you arrest teachers for demanding allowances pledged to them but allow terrorists to roam free in Wajir and Mandera?”

President Kenyatta’s assent of the Division of Revenue bill did not escape Odinga’s commentary either with the former premier accusing the head of state of undermining devolution.

“We demand that governors are allocated enough money to kick start development projects in their counties. Why should mangos rot in Makueni when the residents can make juice and create jobs?”

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Odinga exuded confidence that the March 4 CORD Presidential loss would not be repeated in the July 22 Makueni Senate by-election for which Kethi is vying on a Wiper ticket.

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