Raila assures Kenyans coalition will hold
Prime Minister Raila Odinga started his tour of Meru with the promise that he will work together with President Kibaki.
He dispelled fears that the coalition government may not last its term due to persistent wrangles.
"Be rest assured that the coalition will weather through the current political storm and live the full term contrary to insinuations from some political quarters that one partner has threatened to prematurely pull out of the arrangement,” Mr Odinga said during a tour of development projects in Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties Saturday.
He dismissed those threatening to withdraw from the coalition and told Kenyans to ignore them since such a decision could only be made by the two principals.
The PM also cautioned Kenyans to be wary of political alliances anchored on selfish ethnic interests.
"Some of these leaders have joined hands to perpetuate divisive politics and one wonders what they expect the communities they have alienated to do.
"Politics must be pegged on ideals and principles and not tribal arrangements.” the premier said in reference to the KKK alliance bringing together political leaders from the Kikuyu, Kalenjin and Kamba communities under the leadership of Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka.
He said ODM remained the most popular party in the country because its leadership upheld values and virtues that could solidify the fragile national fabric.
Mr Odinga told locals when he presided over the opening of branch offices in Meru and Mukinduri towns that all the 42 communities in the country should be treated with dignity irrespective of their population.
He made several roadside addresses in Chuka, Nkubu, Kariene and Chogoria and Meru town before he commissioned the phase one of the Meru- Mikinduri- Maua road and later concluded his tour with a rally at Mikinduri primary school grounds.
He said the devolved system under the county government would ensure equity in distribution of resources and asked Kenyans to push for the implementation of the constitution which was promulgated last year.
Mr Odinga directed Roads minister Franklin Bett to fast track the rehabilitation of road network in Chuka, Nkubu and parts of Meru town to promote trade in the region.
Among those present were Cabinet ministers Fred Gumo, Joseph Nyaga, James Orengo, Wycliff Oparanya and assistant minister Alfred Khangati.
