Raila Odinga nets big fish in Western tour as Mukhisa Kituyi joins Azimio

ODM leader Raila Odinga in Kimilili Bungoma County. [Emmanuel Wanson, Standard]

Former Unctad secretary general Mukhisa Kituyi has dropped his presidential bid and thrown his weight behind ODM leader Raila Odinga. 

Dr Kituyi said they have been engaging over working together for a couple of weeks and agreed to finalise their talks before Raila's tour of Western Kenya. 

"I want to tell Raila that I had promised my people that I was in the presidential race but if our unity will help us stop that other person from ascending to power, we shall work together to achieve that," Mukhisa told Azimio supporters in his Kimilili home turf. 

"I will ask my people for permission so that we can solemnise our working together." 

The development comes as a boost for Raila who has been rallying Western to back his fifth stab at the top seat.

“Raila has asked me to join him in national campaigns, I told him that if my people agree to be part of the journey, I will accept his request and join him," said Kituyi, who has been keeping his supporters and opponents guessing about his next political move.

The former PM took his presidential campaigns to Bungoma with a call to the residents to vote for Azimio because it was more trustworthy than Kenya Kwanza led by Deputy President William Ruto.

The ODM leader said Ruto ss a "master of fake promises" and the leaders who accompanied him claimed Ruto is a coward who had succumbed to political pressure by flying out of the country for 12 days.

He took a swipe at Ruto for complaining about corruption in government and likened the Kenya Kwanza Alliance presidential candidate to a suspect being chased but starts pointing a finger at an innocent person while attempting to escape.

“We know who the thieves are. Kenyans are not happy and they are crying, the people have the capacity and desire to bring about change,” Raila told supporters at Kimilili in Bungoma county. 

He was reacting to remarks by Ruto who is on a tour of the USA that cartels and corrupt individuals in government want to subvert democracy and the will of the people of Kenya.

"My first 100 days in office will come with historic changes to revolutionalise all sectors and bring the people together," Raila said.

He said that great leaders of the nation including Luhya greats such as Martin Shikuku, Wamalwa Kijana , George Kapten and the like who fought for the country's liberation died before they achieved the ultimate goal of economic empowerment.

"But I am back in Bungoma to bring you a message of hope, that we are on the journey of revolution. We got independence, a new Constitution and what is remaining is economic recovery which will come with the Azimio presidency" he said. 

He promised to empower the youth so that they employ themselves. "I was in India and borrowed a lot on how they empower their youth through loans," he said.