Raila Odinga accuses DP Ruto of ‘bribing’ MPs to join Jubilee

CORD leader Raila Odinga has accused Deputy President William Ruto of ‘bribing’ Members of Parliament from Western region to join Jubilee Party.

The Orange Democratic Movement leader said the government has been giving residents of Western region false promises which cannot be accomplished under their leadership.

He cautioned western leaders against falling prey to empty rhetoric perpetuated by Jubilee to lure them into government, noting that the incentives being flaunted in the region are disingenuous.

“In a month, the deputy president gives Ksh50 million in Harambees yet we know his salary cannot sustain such exuberant expenditures,” said Raila.

“Ruto has been coming with money in sacks dishing it to Members of Parliament in Western, spending money that should be channeled to development projects.”

He said that Jubilee is not in a position to accomplish the promises it has been giving Kenyans in the remaining 20 months, having failed to do so in the last three years.

“The projects that Jubilee is carrying out right now are the ones that began during the Grand Coalition government led by myself as the Prime Minister and President Mwai Kibaki,” said Raila.

“Jubilee has not been able to fulfil the pledges they gave Kenyans during the campaigns in the three years that they have been in power. There is no way they will be able to do so in the remaining one year, eight months.”

This is not the first time that Raila has hit out at Ruto over his Harambee contributions prompting the deputy president to respond to the claims that he is dishing out fraudulently obtained money.

In an interview on Citizen TV’s last month, Ruto stated that he regards giving as a matter of the heart and not wealth, adding that he is ready for a lifestyle audit.

“I declared my wealth several times when I was a Member of Parliament and I fully support lifestyle audit on public servants. I do not have anything to hide; I am ready for a lifestyle audit anytime,” said Ruto.

The deputy president hit out at his detractors for propagating unfounded claims over his wealth status saying the allegations that he illegally acquired wealth are false and misguided.

“They said I grabbed a piece of land on Ngong Road, we went to court and that case was dismissed. They made allegations about Lang’ata Road Primary School but that too was proven to be false. The owner of the controversial plot on which the school stands is in court and he is not William Ruto.”

The deputy president stated that he had documents showing he, together with other partners, took a loan from banks to build Weston Hotel saying every property he has was acquired legally.

The CORD leader also lashed out at IPSOS market research firm following the recently released polls that showed a majority of Kenyans want him to quit politics.

The polls released last month showed that 42 per cent of Kenyans want Raila to quit active politics while 25 per cent think he should continue.

Odinga said the polls were tailored to serve the interests of Jubilee government adding that the respondents to the questions asked were from Jubilee strongholds.

“IPSOS has been restricting its research to Jubilee areas instead of stretching out to every part of the country. I would not expect Jubilee supporters to back my presidential bid, just the same way my supporters would not back President Uhuru’s,” he said.

Raila was speaking in Bukura South at Lurambi Constituency during the funeral of Mama Leah Khasungu Odera Khainga, mother to University of Nairobi lecturer and plastic surgeon Prof Khainga.

In the same meeting, Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale and Governor Wycliffe Oparanya clashed over summons issued to the governor to appear before the senate committee investigating allegations of corruption at the county government.

Khalwale called on Oparanya to honour the summons and clear his name over the issue saying avoiding the same would only stretch the matter further.

In a rejoinder, Oparanya said he does not fear a probe into his conduct as county governor saying he is clear of any wrongdoings.

By @benjaminwafula