This too you will overcome, DP Ruto tells Raila after COVID-19 diagnosis

Deputy President William Ruto has sent a goodwill message to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga after the latter tested positive for COVID-19.

In a shift from his usual criticism of the ODM leader, Dr. Ruto expressed confidence that Mr. Odinga will recover from the virus.

“To @RailaOdinga, former PM, Isaiah 53v5 by Jesus stripes comes healing. You have fought many battles, you have always demonstrated courage and bravery. This too you will overcome. Quick recovery my friend. The nation is praying,” the DP said on Twitter on Thursday night.

Mr. Odinga was admitted to the Nairobi Hospital earlier this week after he complained of general fatigue and body aches.

His physician David Oluoch-Olunya confirmed that he had been diagnosed with SARS-2 COVID 19 and his progress is being monitored.

Mr. Odinga later released a statement assuring the public that he ‘feels strong and in good shape’ and will follow his doctor’s advice to undertake the mandatory quarantine.

DP Ruto and Mr. Odinga have been at loggerheads with their most recent clash based on their stance towards the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Bill that seeks to review the Constitution.

At one time, the ODM leader likened Dr. Ruto’s hustler vs dynasty narrative to Adolf Hitler’s National Socialism.

Mr Odinga who has been drumming support for the BBI argued that the hustler narrative is a ‘dangerous line of politics’.

“These ideologies caused a great deal of trauma to Germany and the world. They ended in the Holocaust. I fear the ‘hustlers vs dynasties’ narrative will have the same deadly consequences for Kenya as Nazism did for Germany,” he said.

The DP however clapped back accusing his rival of ignorance.

Dr Ruto who is gunning for the country’s top seat has been adamant that there is no urgency in reviewing the Constitution.

He has often averred that the most pressing issue for leaders should be to offer support to poor Kenyans particularly in the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Deputy President argues that millions of ordinary people are struggling economically as the pandemic continues to ravage the country.

“We do not have a problem with the review of the constitution. But it should be heavy on wealth and jobs creation for the ordinary people,” he said during a past event.