Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party presidential candidate Raila Odinga yesterday urged Kenyans to reject leaders who have been tainted by corruption.
Raila, who was with his running mate, Martha Karua and Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, said their opponents in the Kenya Kwanza coalition were not capable of fixing the country's numerous challenges after they were implicated in graft cases.
"Kenya's traditional problems of ignorance, poverty and disease cannot be effectively solved due to the emergence of the fourth problem - corruption. Unless we get rid of corruption, we cannot fight the other three problems. Corruption empties pockets of the poor people to benefit few rich. Kenyans have been paying heavy taxes everyday but it is eventually looted by corrupt leaders," said Raila.
At the same time, Raila tore into UDA presidential candidate William Ruto's purported philanthropic acts, saying they were aided by funds accumulated through corrupt dealings. "He spends Sh100 million every month on harambees while we know his salary is Sh1.2 million. Where does he get the money from?"
The former premier trained his sights on Ruto's running mate, Rigathi Gachagua, citing a ruling where the Mathira MP was ordered to surrender to the State millions of shillings after he failed to declare the fund's source.
"The other day the court ruled that Gachagua had indeed stolen Sh200 million which he had been fighting to retain. That effectively means Ruto does not have a running mate because he (Gachagua) has failed the test of integrity as per the Constitution.
"Therefore before the court of public opinion here in Machakos, Kenyans should demand that Gachagua quits his bid as a presidential running mate," he said.
Raila said his Azimio government will bring the much needed third liberation of economic transformation in the country. "The Azimio team brings the much needed economic liberation in the country which is a part of its 10-point agenda."
On her part, Karua termed corruption as the greatest impendent to development and urged citizens to reject the Kenya Kwanza team which she said was tainted with corruption. "Kenyans should know those who loot public coffers are dangerous because they make many Kenyans lack basic critical services," she said.
Kalonzo urged the Kamba community to come out in large numbers and vote for Raila to the last man. "A vote for Raila will be a vote for Kalonzo and I know that the community will be part of the next government."
Earlier, Raila and Karua attended a prayer meeting convened by Machakos Wiper governor candidate, Wavinya Ndeti where she was endorsed for the seat.
