The war between ODM leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto seems to be far from ending. What started as a question into the misused Dam project billions escalated a war of words, with Raila passing claims that Ruto’s car gift to Arch Bishop Anyolo was rejected. In response to the claims, Ruto has been firing shots at the AU envoy, with him now taking the war of words to Murang’a.
Speaking at St Joseph The Worker Catholic Church in Murang’a on Monday+ during the funeral service for Senator Irungu Kang’ata’s mother Margaret Wangechi, Ruto said Raila could not be trusted and was pursuing a vendetta against him by demonising the Jubilee government and its projects.
“This is someone who cannot be trusted. He was fighting Northern Water Collector Tunnel, said funds had been lost in Eurobond and now he is telling us that he talked to the Pope (Francis),” said Dr Ruto.
The DP was referring to claims by Raila on Saturday that Ruto’s gift of a car to Philip Anyolo, the Kisumu Archbishop, had been rejected on account of the alleged shadowy source of money used to buy it.
“This is pure madness that cannot be accepted by anybody,” said the deputy president.Ruto affirmed that the Government was committed to the fight against corruption but on condition that it was based on facts.
He said he was a supporter of President Uhuru Kenyatta, a journey he and the former started after they agreed to play a huge part in transforming the nation.
“As an assistant to the President, we are on course to achieve what we promised Kenyans during our election,” said Ruto.
Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, also speaking at the funeral service, advised Ruto to stop commenting on corruption and give the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) time to conduct investigations.
He said Ruto risked undermining the war on graft by saying that it was targeted at frustrating his political ambitions in 2022.
“Ruto, don’t speak about corruption, let DCI officers do their part. You will be surprised with what they will achieve if we allow them to do their work,” said Kalonzo.
Senate majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen accused Raila of using the handshake between him and the President to create a rift in Jubilee.
He claimed Malindi MP Aisha Juma, who was expelled from the ODM party on Friday, paid the price of the handshake for supporting Ruto.
“The handshake has blessings that there are no street protests, but there is politics of witch-hunt that is being plotted against Ruto,” said Mr Murkomen.
He appealed to Uhuru to unite Jubilee Party members to stop the emerging disunity. Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika declared their support for Uhuru and Ruto, saying the team had a short time to deliver pledges.
Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria urged Raila to stop commenting on matters of the Catholic Church. “Some politicians are now interfering with the Catholic Church and I will not allow this to happen. Let’s politicise other things and not the church,” he said.