Uhuru, Raila altercation at Ntimama funeral indecent – Mudavadi

Amani National Congress leader has condemned the public spat between President Uhuru Kenyatta and CORD leader Raila Odinga at the late William Ole Ntimama’s funeral on Wednesday, September 14.

In a statement, Mudavadi said the exchange showed how ‘decadence has become an attribute of Kenyan leaders’.

“Any leader must exercise restraint. There was no need for the juvenile exchange at such a solemn occasion. I was both ashamed and embarrassed that these are people Kenyans vote for,” said Mudavadi, adding that leaders claiming national respect owe it to behave with decency.

He termed the altercation between President Kenyatta and Odinga on who owned Ntimama politically as ‘despicable’.

“Why would you want to claim a closeness only the dead can be witness? It was also horrible to hear the President own up to corruption and chide those who are not partaking of it. The ‘sisi tunakula nyama na nyinyi harurufu’ wasn’t just in bad taste but that the President was actually justifying the “it is our time to eat” crude reminder of what Mzee Jomo Kenyatta asked Bildad Kaggia. Uhuru was telling Kenyans I am eating, what are you waiting for? Join the gravy train. Uhuru’s was an invitation for all of us to join thieving as a national past time,” said Mudavadi.

The ANC leader was speaking to the media on the side-lines at the burial of Ntimama, whom he described as an honest leader who spoke his mind.

“In his desire to protect public resources, Ntimama closely monitored me as Minister for Local Government to ensure that no revenue from the Maasai Mara Game Reserve was stolen. That is the legacy Ntimama would like to be remembered for. He would have told off Jubilee for its unapologetic arrogance on public interest matters.”

Mudavadi said the watermark of public impatience with Jubilee trickery is corruption with which they mock poor Kenyans. He took issue with what he called a plot to sabotage IEBC reform and Jubilee proclivity to deception.