PM Odinga hails selfless Cord partners

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has drawn parallel to the support he got from his Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) partners to selflessness of Jesus Christ, whom according to Christian doctrine, died to save mankind from sin.

Mr Odinga said, by shelving their presidential bids, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) and Trade Minister Moses Wetangula of Ford-Kenya had demonstrated self-sacrifice required of all leaders.

“It shows Kenyans that they have no time for divisive politics tailored on tribal lines. For that, we remain indebted to them,” he said.

He at the same time asked members of the public to use the festive season to reach out to the less fortunate.

“Let remember the disabled, the sick, those without food, orphans and the elderly who may not have much to celebrate over in the happy times,” he said.

Mr Odinga also lashed out at his opponents from the Jubilee alliance who branded his Cord alliance as a conglomeration of old generation that had outlived their usefulness.

“We want politics that are hinged on policies and vision but not age. Some of them may be in their fifties but their minds are too old. Some of us are in their sixties and very young in our thinking. So whom should one go for in the two scenarios?” he posed.

Eldoret North MP William Ruto while addressing Jubilee coalition delegates at Kasarani over the weekend described Cord as an alliance of leaders who belong to the analogue generation.

He referred to Jubilee coalition as a digital grouping that was in tandem with the 21st century.

Mr Odinga said he had enough experience to accelerate Kenya's economic growth.

“It will be suicidal for this country to dismiss good leaders on the basis of age. We must take this country to where it belongs," he added.

Mr Odinga has pledged to adopt the approaches used in Malaysia and South Korea that were at par with Kenya in terms of development in the 70s to catch up with the Asian tigers.

“We know where we got it wrong in the 70s. Without appearing to copy paste the strategies they used, we will borrow from them where necessary so that we scale the ladders faster to improve the living standards of every Kenyan,” he said.