As the race to State House gains momentum, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has warned Kenyans against a Raila Odinga or William Ruto presidency.
Speaking while appearing on Citizen TV breakfast show on Thursday, September 9, the senator argued that if either of the two presidential hopefuls considered as front runners makes it to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta, then we will not have a united nation.
“I can assure you today if William Ruto or Raila Odinga became president, half of the country would be satisfied and the other half dissatisfied,” Malala adding that the idea of two strongly opposing sides has messed up previous elections..
Malala while warning Kenyans against a Raila or Ruto presidency said those claiming that the 2022 presidential election will be a two-horse race are psychologically widening the already divided country.
“What we need now is a compromise candidate, a candidate who will bring Kenya together. A (Mwai) Kibaki-like president similar to 2002 (General Election when Kibaki united the country), and this candidate is Musalia Mudavadi,” he said.
It is no doubt that ODM leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto have been feted as the front runners in the race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta who is expected to retire in August 2022.
Malala took a swipe at Raila Odinga’s 2022 campaign catch-phrase ‘azimio la umoja’ (quest for unity) which tends to promise a united country but in reality, the opposition leader is not genuine as he has divided the government after striking a working relationship with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“At the moment, Raila Odinga went into government (through handshake), he has ensured the government is divided. The presidency is divided (President Uhuru and his deputy fell out). He was in opposition, he ensured the opposition coalition NASA is divided. So is he genuine about uniting this country?” posed Malala who aspires to be the next Kakamega governor.
Malala seemed to echo his party leader’s recent statement where he said Raila Odinga and William Ruto are too angry to lead Kenya.
Speaking at a funeral in Nandi county, Musalia said he is the sober candidate who Kenya must consider to vote in as the next Head of State.
“Na ukweli ni kwamba ukiangalia uso wa Ruto hasira, ukiona uso wa Raila hasira, you see anger you see bitterness, ukweli ama uongo? (The truth is that if you look at Ruto and Raila’s faces, you see anger, bitterness, true or false?),
“I am asking Kenyans when you look at me do you see anger? do you see bitterness? Basi Kenya inahitaji kiongozi ambaye ataelekeza Kenya vizuri, kwa sababu Kenya haitaki kiongozi ambaye amekasirika,” he said.
