Raila Odinga took his 2022 campaign presidential campaigns to Central Kenya by meeting a section of influential Kikuyu businessmen and lay out his plans should he become the fifth president.
On Thursday, August 12, the ODM leader met the Kikuyu businessmen at the burial of Politician Lawrence Nginyo.
This was the third term Raila Odinga was meeting a similar group of businessmen from Mt Kenya region this year.
In the meeting, Raila Odinga wooed them to support him, and in return, he will ensure they reap a maximum benefit from tea, coffee, pyrethrum, and avocado farming.
“We will change the way business is done in this country. We will promote and protect local investments so that the profits they make is ploughed back,
“Foreign investors come to make money and send the proceeds back to their countries,” Raila Odinga said.
Other than the agricultural sector Raila Odinga also promised the Kikuyu businessmen that his government will deal with corruption, as it is the root cause of Kenya’s economic problems.
In the meeting, the former Prime Minister took a swipe at William Ruto’s economic model that focuses on uplifting the low-income earners.
“There must be a concise, well-thought-out plan of rebuilding the economy. Our country will not afford to rely on promises built on untested economic models largely anchored on sloganeering,” he said terming William Ruto’s model as rubbish.
This has earned Raila Odinga ridicule from his opponents in Ruto’s camp, who have accused him of looking down on the small income earners.
Raila Odinga’s tour of Mt. Kenya region comes amid a plan by President Uhuru allies to increase his popularity in the region.
Led by Jubilee Vice-chairman David Murathe, the Uhuru allies are on a mission to wipe out the DP Ruto effect in the region.
“Where you see Raila Odinga, you see President Uhuru… I had (said before) prepare for Jakom (Raila Odinga) to be the fifth president,” Murathe said.
