President Uhuru Kenyatta cautions Raila Odinga over ‘divisive’ talk

Remarks made by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on the conduct of ODM rebel MPs have elicited sharp reactions from President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto.
Responding Raila’s warning to ODM rebels to toe the party line or ship out, the President cautioned leaders to weigh their words carefully to avoid creating disharmony among Kenyans.
President Kenyatta said it was irresponsible for leaders to utter words that could divide Kenyans even if one was in the Opposition.
The President was addressing a leaders’ meeting in Kisii yesterday before gracing the Kisii Catholic Diocese’s Sadaka Maalum Collection which was preceded by a special mass at the Gusii Stadium. He said being in Opposition does not imply that one was an enemy of the ruling coalition.

“You do not cease to be a Kenyan just because you are in the Opposition. And as Kenyans, we cannot afford to be enemies. I was also once in the Opposition but I was never an enemy of the Government of that time,” he noted.
President Kenyatta said he will continue to work with all elected leaders irrespective of party affiliation. “Wananchi exercised their democratic right by electing leaders of their choice. It does not matter on which political party one was elected. What matters to wananchi now is the service they get,” said the President.
On Friday, Raila told the so-called rebels in his party: “You are either with us or with them; support us or work with Jubilee.”
Without mincing words, Raila said the party would not tolerate “elements” out to rock the boat from within. “You are for us or against us, there is no two-way traffic about it,” he maintained.
Some ODM members have become increasingly critical of leaders in their party taking part in functions organised by the Government, describing their actions as promoting the ruling coalition as progressive.
Speaking elsewhere, Deputy President Ruto cautioned Opposition leaders against equating political competition with enmity.
Competitive politics
He said competitive politics was healthy in a democracy and should not degenerate into enmity and polarisation of communities along party lines. “All leaders, whether in Government or Opposition, have a responsibility to create a united, peaceful and prosperous country and the politics of ‘you are with us or against us’ is primitive and backward.”
“Leaders in Government should serve with diligence and fairness and without bias, while those in the Opposition should carry out their functions  with patriotism and a sense of responsibility.”
The Deputy President was speaking at Chwele Girls High School in Bungoma County where he officiated at a fund raiser in aid of the school. He gave Sh1.5 million, including Sh500,000 from the President. He said the Government will serve all Kenyans irrespective of their party, religious or tribal backgrounds and said no one should be threatened or intimidated against working with the ruling coalition.
“Let no one scare you that you belong to the Opposition and therefore you cannot work with the Government,” Ruto said.
The Deputy President said elected leaders should be given the chance to serve their people without intimidation.

He said they will continue to visit all parts of the country,  including perceived opposition strongholds. Ruto announced that President Kenyatta will soon visit Bungoma County where he will grant a charter to Kibabii University and open an immigration office at Lwakhakha border post.
Development projects
The Deputy President further said construction works on the Lwakhakha-Sirisia-Chwele and Kapsokwony-Kopsiro-Namwela roads would begin in February next year. Noting that Bungoma County will receive nearly Sh7 billion this year, Ruto said the money would be largely used to improve roads.
Similar development programmes will be earmarked for Kisii. The President maintained that the Government would continue to hire people from all regions and communities and asked county governments to do the same.
Next year, the Government will begin the construction of the first 2,000 kilometres of a 10,000-kilometre roads project  in Kisii and Nyamira as part of the its infrastructure annuity programme, the President said.
The infrastructure programme will involve connecting electricity to all primary and secondary schools. “This means all communities neighbouring schools will benefit from this programme,” Uhuru said.
The President also said the Kisii Level 5 Hospital will benefit from a Memorandum of Understanding between the Kenyan and Chinese government, in which China will provide hospital equipment. Suneka airstrip will also be expanded.
Local leaders led by Kisii Governor James Ongwae, his Nyamira counterpart John Nyagarama and Senator Chris Obure pledged to work closely with the Government to ensure that they deliver quality services to Kenyans.
“As the leadership of Kisii, we want to partner with the Government to champion the cause of the Kisii community,” Obure said.
– Additional reporting by Fred Kibor and PSCU.