Threats won't work, President Uhuru Kenyatta tells CORD leader Raila Odinga

President Uhuru Kenyatta (Left) and Deputy President William Ruto (right) join Nandi traditional dancers at Kipchabo Primary School grounds during a public rally in Chesumei Constituency Nandi County, yesterday. [PHOTO: DPPS]

Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta has told CORD leader Raila Odinga to stop issuing threats and ultimatums, saying he was not shaken by calls for mass action.

Responding for the first time to demands for a referendum by the Opposition, the President said he was firmly in charge and accused CORD of undermining Jubilee’s efforts to serve Kenyans.

He dismissed the opposition’s demands as baseless. He told Raila: “You are a leader and I respect you but we cannot move on like this, I have invited you for dialogue but you have refused, and yet I have no problem to that regard, but you cannot threaten me.”

He accused CORD of unfairly engaging in unnecessary incessant accusations against his  administration. He said some CORD leaders had been in power for over two decades, yet they are now criticising his government while they did little to help Kenyans.

“We need to be given time and space to serve Kenyans by right and through democracy,” he said.

He added: “These guys are making us deploy about over 10,000 policemen to provide security in their rallies when we have security problems in other parts of the country that need attention.”

On Monday, CORD held a meeting in Nairobi preceded by calls for dialogue with President Kenyatta over issues affecting the country.

Issuing threats

During the rally, the Opposition launched a movement dubbed Okoa Kenya whose main goal is to push for a referendum on governance.

Yesterday, Kenyatta said he is open to dialogue with any leader who has ideas to transform the country. “As I have said before you are welcomed to come and see me over a cup of tea if you have anything you want to discuss with me but you cannot keep issuing threats,” he said.

The President and his Deputy William Ruto spoke at Kipchabo Primary School in Nandi County, yesterday after launching the new Kipchabo Tea Factory. Nandi MP Alfred Keter, Senator Stephen Sang and Governor Cleophas Ragat were present.

President Kenyatta told those making noise to stop misleading Kenyans because they were wiser now. Elections, he said, are several years away and Kenyans would make their own decisions at the time based on Jubilee’s performance.

He assured that the Government is on the right path to deliver promises including infrastructure. Construction of 2,000kms of roads was in progress, he said, adding that funding secured from China would go a long way in realising that promise.

 

He said in the first year, more than 2,000 primary schools were connected to the national grid.

But in an indirect reference to Mr Keter who has been criticising the Government, the president said leaders must toe the party line.

Deputy President William Ruto asked leaders to focus on issues which can uplift the people’s living standards and avoid those that hinder development.

“All elected leaders have no time for empty rhetoric but to unite the country. This country cannot be developed through sideshows and politics of hatred or demonstrations,” he said.

Election promise

Mr Ruto said the Government will not be distracted by those engaging in rhetoric saying the Jubilee administration will fulfill all election promises.

He said the Government has resettled thousands of families in Mau and Embobut forests and another group of 300 squatters in Nandi County will be resettled this financial year. National Assembly Majority Leader Adan Duale took issue with leaders calling for mass action and asked them to follow the Constitution in addressing the challenges facing the country.

“If we want some issues solved by the President, we should know that this country is governed by laws which need to be followed. If there are issues to be solved at the IEBC and devolved system of government, then they can be solved through framework of constitution and nothing short of that,” said Mr Duale.

Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki commended Kenyans who attended the recent Saba Saba rally for ignoring those who had called for mass action. Prof Kindiki said time for mass action, demonstrations and rallies was over and the focus is now on development.

Local leaders including MP Alex Kosgei urged the Government to explore ways of solving the challenges facing the local tea and dairy sectors.