Machakos County Governor Dr Alfred Mutua, who has openly expressed interest in succeeding President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022 has opened up on plans of working with ODM party leader Raila Odinga.
Speaking while appearing in a televised interview on Sunday evening, Mutua said should political coalitions be the only way to help him realise his dream, then, he does not lock out the possibility of working with parties such as ODM ahead of 2022.
“I am leaving my cards open. I am willing to work with leaders, who understand that Kenya needs a firm-yet-caring leadership,” he said.
The county chief revealed to K24’s Anne Kiguta that Raila had advised him to hit the ground running with campaigns ahead of 2022.
I will be running for the highest seat in the office. I have even shared this with @RailaOdinga. #Punchline pic.twitter.com/McFKDCBe2Z
— Dr. Alfred Mutua (@DrAlfredMutua) December 22, 2019
“I am going to run for President in 2022. It is my time. I have told Raila Odinga that I will run for President. He laughed about it. He advised me to hit the ground running with nationwide campaigns. He promised to support my dream ,” said Mutua.
.@DrAlfredMutua : I have told Raila Odinga that I will run for President. He laughed about it. He asked me to hit the ground with campaigns. He promised to support my dream [of becoming a president]. #Punchline @AnneKiguta pic.twitter.com/vWv2SmylmF
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) December 22, 2019
The host, Kiguta, put the governor to task to explain why he is now warming up to Odinga, who — in 2008 — he accused of overseeing the violence that left hundreds of thousands displaced and hundreds of lives lost.
“Raila explained to me that he was not responsible for the deaths of Kenyans in the 2007/2008 post-election violence. I told the New York Times that Raila’s people orchestrated the chaos, and not Raila himself,” said the governor, who added that he is optimistic that the happenings of 2007/2008 post-election violence won’t reoccur.
"I know people in Raila's camp who orchestrated violence in 2007. I was an ICC witness. I recorded statements with the ICC. And we know." – Dr Alfred Mutua #Punchline
— Abraham Mohammed Mutai (@ItsMutai) December 22, 2019