Ruto, Raila face off over 2017 elections at Obwocha burial

The rivalry between Deputy President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga took centre stage on Friday when the two political adversaries met at the burial of the late former minister Henry Obwocha.

Ruto and Raila greeted each other in respectable fashion and even sat side by side as the burial ceremony commenced.

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However, when it was time to take the podium, their bitter past reared its ugly head, reminding Kenyans of the last hotly contested general election.

Raila Odinga, who spoke before the DP, took a trip down memory lane, claiming once again that he had been the most popular candidate.

“Najua mimi niko na wafuasi wengi sana hapa. Mlinipiga kura kwa fujo kabisa…lakini sasa mnajua yale yalifanyika…watu walikasirika sana…tukaenda mbele ya Maraga (I know I have many supporters here who overwhelmingly voted for me…but now you know what happened…people were disappointed and we sought the intervention of CJ David Maraga),” he said.

DP Ruto however rubbished the claims insisting that those who lost in the election should gracefully accept defeat.

According to him, leaders from across the political divide must forget issues of the last general election and focus their energies on development.

“Asiyekubali kushindwa si mshindani. Mimi nawaomba tukienda kwa uchaguzi tii uamuzi wa wananchi (He who does not accept defeat is a sore loser. I urge you to respect the decision of voters whenever we have an election),” DP Ruto said.

Also present at the burial was Chief Justice David Maraga, Interior CS Fred Matiangi (Security),FORD Kenya leader Moses Wetangula, Governors John Nyagarama (Nyamira), James Ongwae (Kisii) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega).