A few months ago, Moses Kuria wouldn’t have dared to visit any place in Nyanza because that would have meant immediate death. The controversial Gatundu South Mp was Raila’s number one critic insulting him in every way possible in public. He at one time, claimed that the former prime minister had sacrificed his son, the late Fidel Odinga.
He also claimed that he would assassinate the man who is viewd like a small god in Nyanza. But it seems residents of have buried the hatched as they gave Kuria welcome only befitting a prince when the legislator made a stop in the lakeside city on Saturday morning.
Kuria, termed the residents, he was previously insulting, as very friendly stating that “the city is also very wonderful”.He said he had been send by Baba to preach the message of peace and reconciliation in the region
And just like it was expected, the leader hit out at Jubilee MPs who have criticized the famous handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila.
“The handshake is something to be proud of and we should all support it,” Kuria said, “That I’m here in Kisumu is a manifestation that the handshake is real.I think only a stupid man can criticise a handshake, because it is not about politics,” he added.
He asked the leaders to embrace it and build bridges of understanding between all communities.
“Mambo ya uchaguzi itakuja baadaye lakini kwa wakati huu tukae kama ndugu na tufanye maandeleo,” he said.
Kuria extended an invite to residents to also visit Central Kenya further urging leaders from Nyanza to also visit the region and preach peace and unity insisting that the unity pact between Uhuru and Raila is unstoppable.
The legislator reminded his audience that it was not the first time he had associated with the locals as he had hosted Kenya Premier League Giants K’Ogalo, a team that has a huge fan base in Nyanza, in Gatundu. “I will do it again,” he said. “I am going to come back with my team from Gatundu so that they play with Gor Marhia after the season ends,” he said.
He regretted the fact that he had lost a lot of good opportunities to visit and mingle with the people of Kisumu. The legislator is expected to visit Nyakach for a church fundraising and attend the homecoming of ICT PS Jerome Ochieng.
Ochieng, a man closely associated with Raila, was among PS named in changes announced by the president this month. “I took time to visit this wonderful city of Kisumu with very friendly people. I am very happy and pleased to be in Kisumu.”
Despite being a fierce Raila critic, a local newspaper revealed that the former prime minister has played a big role in Kuria’s political career. In fact, were it not for Baba, Kuria would not have graduated from the University of Nairobi.
Raila interceded and helped Kuria to be readmitted to the university after he was suspended together with other students leaders in 1995.
A source close to Kuria revealed to the newspaper that when the MP and his colleagues were ejected by the university senate, it is Raila who gave Kuria some money and instructed the late Otieno Kajwang’ to represent the student leaders in court.
“I can confirm that Raila gave Kuria Sh400 and also paid Kajwang to represent the students in court. I can also confirm that on Saturday January 20, 1995, Kuria attended Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s first anniversary and slept in Raila’s Opoda Farm home in Bondo,” the source revealed.