By Peter Opiyo
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has dismissed the tripartite alliance mounted against him by Deputy Prime Ministers Uhuru Kenyatta, Musalia Mudavadi and Eldoret North MP, William Ruto.
The PM said the trio are scared of ODM’s strength and said their strategies would not work against him and ODM. He likened them to the proverbial rats that hatched a plan to tie a bell around the cat’s neck so that they could pick it out whenever it raids, but none would tie the bell.
“They are like those rats who after making a nice bell started arguing who would tie it around the cat’s neck. TNA said no I can’t, URP said no I can’t and UDF said no as well. So, in the end nobody was able to belt the cat and that cat is called ODM,” said Raila.
Raila’s wife Ida, Kasarani MP, Elizabeth Ongoro, nominated MP, Millie Odhiambo –Mabona and former Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia accompanied him.
He was reacting to a strategy by the three to block him from ascending to presidency come 2013 general elections. In the last week, allies of the trio have been scratching their heads to come up with a strategy that would block Raila from becoming the country’s fourth President.
Last week Mudavadi and Ruto met, in Nairobi, about 40 MPs allied to UDF and URP to work out a formula that would see them unite against the premier. And on Saturday, they roped in Uhuru’s TNA when Mudavadi held a rally at the historic Masinde Muliro Garden, Kakamega, just a week after Raila led a rally at the venue.
But while speaking at Jesus Is Alive Ministry, Nairobi, Raila asked Kenyans to judge the politicians with their actions, saying the group can’t be trusted with implementing the new Constitution. The Ministry is associated with Starehe MP, Margaret Wanjiru, who was the preacher during the service.
“Judge them by their actions. This country has gone through a lot of problems. We have a new Constitution that must be safeguarded by the people who believe in it and not hypocrites,” said Raila.
He said they preach tribalism and should not be given a chance to lead Kenya as their recent actions have shown they don’t have the interest of Kenya at heart.
“Look at politicians and their actions. Tomorrow they will go to Limuru and talk about Gikuyu, Embu and Meru Association (Gema) and go to Eldoret to preach Kalenjin, Maasai, Turkana and Samburu (Kamatusa) and come and tell you they are nationalists,” the PM said.
He was referring to the recent gatherings organised by Uhuru in Limuru under Gema and Ruto in Eldoret under Kamatusa to chart a political path.
