Deputy President William Ruto
Friday warned Cord leaders that
mass action threats would create
tension and derail efforts to unite
the country following last year’s
General Election.
He said calls for a rally on July 7
to pressure the Government to
hold a national dialogue on
problems facing the country, were
divisive and would reverse gains
made in reconciling Kenyans.
July 7 is associated with the pro-
democracy movement in Kenya.
Mr Ruto spoke as former Vice-
President Kalonzo Musyoka
declared that Cord was not
interested in government jobs and
was only campaigning for a
resolution of the problems facing
Kenyans.
SLIPPERY ROAD
The Deputy President said: “That
route of dividing wananchi on the
basis of tribe and religion so we
can talk of a tsunami,
demonstrations and mass action is
what took us to the bad, slippery
road that made us almost destroy
this country.” He was at a fund-
raiser at Riokindo secondary
school in Kisii county.
“Do you want us to abandon roads,
electricity and security projects so
that we can conduct public rallies
to discuss tsunamis and mass
actions? That we won’t do,” he
added.
But speaking in neighbouring
Nyamira County during a fund-
raiser, Mr Musyoka warned of
unspecified consequences if the
Jubilee leadership did not agree to
hold structured talks with Cord.
He said Cord leaders were not
interested in forming a coalition
with Jubilee and told the
Government not to panic since all
Cord leaders wanted was a joint
meeting to address insecurity,
corruption and inclusion in
government appointments.
The former VP said he and Cord
leader Raila Odinga “will not stoop
so low” as to accept any position in
Jubilee government, adding:
“Which position will Jubilee give
us in their Government? Will I be
the deputy to Mr Ruto while Raila
will be assistant to Uhuru?”
“We are not desperate to join the
Jubilee government as those
opposed to us think. Why are
Jubilee leaders panicking after we
have demanded that we meet
them to discuss pertinent issues
affecting good governance of this
country?”
Mr Kalonzo spoke at Kiabonyoru
girls secondary school and said
Cord would not relent on its
campaign to pressurise Jubilee
Government to be sensitive to
problems facing Kenyans.
He criticized the Jubilee
government for paying the
architects of the Anglo Leasing
scandal, saying Cord leadership
would ensure those behind the
theft were arrested and the money
returned.
Mr Ruto told the opposition
leaders to wait for 2017 and cease
dividing the country. “It wasn’t
the last election. So, let the leaders
wait for 2017 for another chance.
This midway attempt is but an
attempt to divide Kenyans,” he
said.
On Thursday former Prime
Minister Raila Odinga said the
country should brace for Saba Saba
if the President will not have
called national dialogue.
“My brother Uhuru agreed to a
national dialogue during Madaraka
Day celebrations only to turn
around after meeting Jubilee
officials and invited me and
Kalonzo Musyoka for a cup of tea
at State House,” Mr Odinga said.
“It is an insult to say that if Raila
and Kalonzo want to talk they
should come to State House for a
cup of tea. Do we look like people
who can be enticed with a cup of
tea?
The era when leaders would be
invited to State House for some
goodies are long gone.”
Mr Odinga said it was wrong for
the President to be prevailed upon
by Jubilee leaders to reject such an
important forum.
Meanwhile, Jubilee and Cord
leaders are camping in Nyanza this
weekend.
President Uhuru Kenyatta will be
in Rongo for the burial of the
daughter of area MP Dalmas
Otieno while Mr Odinga will be in
Siaya County for the funeral of
Siaya county executive for health
Dr Silvester Adala who died on
May 20 in Kisumu.
