ODM leader Raila Odinga has warned deputy president Dr William Ruto to prepare to battle it out for the presidency like other candidates without expecting favours from President Uhuru Kenyatta.
This looks like a clear indication that DP Ruto’s journey to state house will not be as easy as he might be expecting.
Raila further told Ruto to stop telling Kenyans that President Kenyatta had, in 2013, promised to support him in the succession battle.
Speaking at his Opoda farm in Bondo on Saturda where he hosted more than 150 Kikuyu leaders and elders from Nakuru, the ODM leader said Kenyans were not aware of a deal between the President and his deputy over 2022.
“When they were agreeing with the President, the rest of Kenyans were not party to the deal and therefore he cannot impose his will on Kenyans,” Raila said.
He said the presidential elections will only be there open to any Kenyan who will qualify thus no one should be claiming that he/she is the one who must get.
“The presidential elections will be open to any Kenyans who qualify. No one should claim he is the one who must get it,” said Raila.
Politicians allied to the DP have been piling pressure on the President to show commitment to support Ruto in the 2022 succession race.
The Tang Tanga team believes Kenyatta’s handshake with Raila was a threat to Ruto’s presidential bid.
The DP has accused the ODM leader of using the handshake to wreck the Jubilee Party. Raila reiterated that he has not declared interest to run for the presidency and has not struck any 2022 deal with President Kenyatta.