Kibaki mum on call to back Raila for top seat

What you need to know:

  • President avoids succession politics and stresses value of peace and unity ahead of elections

President Kibaki on Thursday declined to bow to pressure from ODM members of Parliament to endorse Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the presidency.

Lands Minister James Orengo and ODM Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo urged the President to declare support for Mr Odinga, saying it was time to pay back the gesture he was shown in 2002.

“In 2002 when Raila said Kibaki tosha, not even my candidature for the presidency could sway the Nyanza vote in my direction. It is because they believed in one Kenya. Now it’s your time to pay back,” he said.

Mr Midiwo said: “We will be more than joyous if you declared Raila tosha”.

The debate had been kicked off by Lari MP David Njuguna who said that Jaramogi stood by Kenyatta at Independence while Raila had stood by Kibaki in 2002 and that the Head of State had come to Kisumu to thank the PM on behalf of Kenyans.

The President and PM were in Kisumu for the official opening of Kisumu International Airport. (READ: Traders’ high hopes as elevated Kisumu airport opens its doors)

But the President kept off succession politics, instead stressing the need for peace and unity in the country.

He also avoided commenting on the demands by local leaders, led by Kisumu Town East MP Olago Aluoch, that the airport be renamed Jaramogi Oginga Odinga International airport.

Endorsement debate

During the ceremony, the President was crowned a Luo elder by Mzee Willis Otondi. He was given a traditional stool, a fly whisk and a walking stick.

Mr Odinga also kept off the endorsement debate, saying the President would be making many more trips to western Kenya, including a return to Kisumu on February 18 with his Uganda counterpart Yoweri Museveni.

He also stressed on the need for unity ahead of polls.

“We want all Kenyans to be united. We may differ on ideologies and political parties but let us not try to divide each other along tribal lines because it is very dangerous for this country,” he said.

He said that he and President Kibaki had steered the country through rough times and that it was their interest to leave it united.