Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has assured voters of Mt Kenya that he has big plans for the region.
Making reference to Jeremiah 29:11, the ODM leader said he had big plans to solve plight of Mt Kenya farmers in the tea, coffee, avocado, milk, among other sectors of the agricultural economy and unemployed youths.
“We have plans for the future of Mt Kenya region to move the country forward. I’m bringing good plans and development to you and not to harm you,” the ODM leader said.
He tore into Deputy President William Ruto for ‘spearheading opposition’ against the Handshake.
Raila said as President Uhuru Kenyatta’s principal assistant, Ruto was wrong to lead a campaign against the handshake at the time the country needed leaders to come together for the sake of peace.
He said, instead of rallying behind the President, the DP decided to ‘betray’ his boss and a cause he had dedicated all his energies to, for the sake of his personal interests.
“I shook hands with Uhuru after the divisive 2017 general elections. Then we agreed on getting the country on the right path. I told Uhuru you are the President and I am in the opposition, and I can be your adviser from outside,” Raila said.
According to Raila, the handshake enabled the government of the day to fast-track development projects in the country.
As a result, Raila says he expected the DP to back the decision by the government and the opposition to close ranks but he instead chose to take a different path that was counterproductive to the country.
Further, he criticised Ruto for opposing the Jubilee administration which he helped form with Kenyatta.
“He sired a child with the President and he is now opposing it, he has been hypocritical in opposing the BBI which was helping the region,” added Raila.
He took credit for the infrastructural projects in the region, saying they were laid during his tenure as Prime Minister in the Grand Coalition Government.
“We constructed Thika Super Highway in our times and designed Thiba dam in Kirinyaga and the Mau Mau road projects, we mean well for this region I’m not your enemy,” he said.
Raila spoke to a congregation during a Church service in Kigumo, Murang’a County.
He was accompanied by MPs, host Wangari Mwaniki, Maina Kamanda (Nominated), Jeremiah Kioni (Ndaragwa), Eve Obara (Kasipul Kabondo), Junet Mohammed (Suna East), Simba Arati (Dagoretti North) and Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris.
