Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto has accused his 2022 main challenger in the presidential race Raila Odinga of being too stingy.
Speaking to a delegation of political and religious leaders from Samburu and Kajiado counties on Tuesday, December 14, at his official residence in Karen, Ruto said Kenyans will not consider a presidential contender who does not stand with them at their hour of need.
“Yule rafiki yetu, haji harambee ya kanisa, hakuji shule, hakuji ya kina mama na hata sadaka peke yake hatoi (our friend does not come nor contribute to both church and school Harambees neither does he even pay tithes),” William Ruto said in an apparent reference to Raila Odinga.
The deputy president said Raila does not deserve any votes because he is stingy.
The former Eldoret North MP wondered what magic Raila uses to get votes when he is that stingy to an extent of not standing with the electorates when in need.
“And you know there are some people who are lucky… because that person (Raila Odinga) doesn’t even pay church offerings but you find you he has got so many votes that you wonder where all these votes has come from,” Ruto said.
Kajiado South MP Katoo Ole Mitito said the deputy president has contributed to almost all church Harambees that have been held in his constituency yet Raila has not been a show at even one church Harambee.
Speaking at the same venue, Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua said former National Super Alliance (NASA) principals Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), and Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) do not want to be associated with Raila because he is stingy.
“And that is why the people of the Ukambani region, and even those on the coast have fled from him,” Gachagua who is considered to be among Ruto’s running mate said.
