DP Ruto accuses Raila Odinga of political slavery

Deputy President William Ruto has accused ODM leader Raila Odinga of engaging in retrogressive politics that focuses on servitude and censuring of its members.

Speaking in reference to the recent dissension in ODM over the party’s Secretary General Ababu Namwamba’s apparent links to Jubilee, Ruto said that it was not a crime for politicians to engage with their peers from other political outfits for the sake of development.

“How can anybody tell us that leaders cannot talk and engage unless they have their permission? It is only slaves who require the permission of their masters to be able to engage or work with other people,” said Ruto during a Church service at Mwala Constituency in Machakos County on Sunday.

He further claimed that it was primitive for leaders to propagate talks of political buy overs and claim that some leaders are being bought to join Jubilee.

“The only place we know where people can be bought or sold is in a slave market, and if you believe in this then you are not a democrat of any shade, you are retrogressive and backward.”

Ruto said Kenyans believe in beneficial interaction within the political leadership with the aim of exchanging ideas in order to realize development in the country.

The DP’s hard-hitting remarks are a reiteration of Saturday’s rebuke of ODM hierarchy for castigating Ababu over his apparent willingness to work with Jubilee.

Namwamba, together with a section of Western MPs allied to ODM, held a press briefing last week to state their displeasure with their treatment in ODM.

In the presser, Funyula MP Paul Otuoma said that they feel alienated in the operations of the party, especially in events held in Western region.

This is not the first time that Namwamba has been linked with plans to leave ODM. Last year, the Budalangi MP was on the receiving end after leading a host of legislators from Western to a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP Ruto at State House in Nairobi.

Namwamba however rubbished claims that he was a Jubilee mole in ODM, saying the visit to State House was aimed at ensuring the region is not left behind in terms of development.

The current developments have angered a section of ODM members with Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi calling on the party leader Raila Odinga to crack down on the want-away members.

Speaking in Kilifi on Saturday, Kingi said that it was improper for leaders to claim they are not happy with the party and even display affiliation to other parties and still retain their place in the party.

Reports have claimed that Ababu’s recent stand signals his plan to ditch ODM for the Labour Party of Kenya, currently led by Julia Ojiambo who was Kalonzo Musyoka’s running mate in the 2007 elections, allegations that both Namwamba and Ojiambo refuted in an interview with a local newspaper.

The matter is expected to take shape in the coming days and could feature prominently during Odinga’s visit to Busia on Monday.

Raila has not officially commented on the issue.

The deputy president has also warned the people of Ukambani against blindly supporting their leaders who have no interest in bettering their living standards.

He said it would be foolhardy for the residents to support leaders into sticking with the opposition and disregard leaders who are out to initiate development in the region.

“If you are told not to work with the government you should know that you’re being taken for a ride because those leaders have water, roads and their children go to good schools.”

He said that though the leaders have been elected through different parties, it is upon them to work with the government to ensure development in realized in their regions.

@benjaminwafula