Poghisio: Raila should bow out of presidential race
President Kibaki (centre) chats with Prime Minister Raila Odinga (left) and Communications minister Samuel Poghisio at Bomas of Kenya in 2010. Mr Poghisio wants Raila to join Kibaki in bowing out of the presidential race. Photo/ File.
Information Minister Samuel Poghisio wants Prime Minister Raila Odinga out of the presidential race as President Mwai Kibaki ends his term in office next year.
Mr Poghisio said the Prime Minister is one of the people associated with the 2007-2008 post-election violence that rocked the country and therefore, like the president, should pack and go.
“Kenya now requires fresh leadership from that of 2007-2008 which saw bloody violence which killed more than 1300 Kenyans. We want a new beginning,” said Poghisio.
The minister said both Kibaki and Raila were squarely involved in the violence that erupted following the disputed presidential results after the 2007 general election.
Mr Poghisio made the remarks at Chumani Secondary School in Bahari constituency, Kilifi County where he accompanied Eldoret North MP Mr William Ruto on his tour to woo support for his presidential bid.
He said with Kibaki and Raila out of the way, “the rest of us can then sit down and decide who will be our flag bearer”.
The minister said he had in mind the likes of Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Mr Ruto, Saboti MP Mr Eugene Wamalwa and others who had declared their interest for the race to State House.
