President Uhuru reaches out to Raila Odinga again

President Uhuru Kenyatta durng the opening of the Huduma Centre in Mombasa city center on August 27, 2014. The President for the second time urged opposition leader Raila Odinga to join hands with the government to deliver services. PHOTO | PSCU 

In Summary

• President Kenyatta said party affiliation and religious beliefs should not divide Kenyans. He said that if there is a problem, leaders should sit at a round table and dialogue.
• In a live interview on Citizen TV, Mr Odinga expressed uncertainty over whether President Kenyatta’s remarks that he would work with him could stand the test of time.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has, for the second time, urged Opposition leader Raila Odinga to join hands with the government to deliver services.

He said Wednesday that politics should not cause enmity between them.

This came as the Cord leader scoffed at attempts to lock him out of the 2017 race through a law capping the age of a presidential candidate. Mr Odinga said nothing would stop him.

President Kenyatta said party affiliation and religious beliefs should not divide Kenyans. He said that if there is a problem, leaders should sit at a round table and dialogue.

Mr Kenyatta said he is not opposed to the clamour for a referendum because the Opposition was exercising its democratic rights. However, he warned leaders against inciting Kenyans.

“Mimi na Tinga hatuna shida,’ (I and Raila have no problem). I am telling him to continue with his referendum dance while I carry on with my development dance. He can meet the people, tell them his agenda and go back home. Kenyans have a right to listen to him and make their own independent decision,” he said.

The Head of State said the government would fully protect the former Prime Minister and his supporters during the referendum, but cautioned citizens that “we cannot eat a referendum but development.”

He told Kenyans to be wary of “empty talk” from politicians, saying they “have degrees in lies.”

“We are experts in cheating people but after doing that, we sit back and enjoy while you suffer,” Mr Kenyatta said.

He was speaking at the Huduma Centre situated at the General Post Office in Mombasa. Mr Kenyatta said that in future, the centre will offer all government services including issuance of the new generation identity cards.

In a live interview on Citizen TV, Mr Odinga expressed uncertainty over whether President Kenyatta’s remarks that he would work with him could stand the test of time.

Mr Odinga said that previous offers had been made to him, but they were not fulfilled.

The Cord co-principal said his supporters urged him not to retire from politics, but should run for president in 2017.

This would be his fourth attempt for the top seat.

Jubilee MPs, in an apparent attempt to lock him out, are said to be planning to introduce a law in Parliament capping the age of a presidential candidate to 65 years.

The ruling Jubilee Coalition has the majority number in Parliament.

—Reports by John Njagi, Daniel Nyassy, Elisha Otieno and Eric Wainaina