Uhuru tells Raila to prepare for defeat in polls

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday told political rival Prime Minister Raila Odinga to prepare for defeat in the forthcoming presidential election.

Mr Kenyatta said Mr Odinga’s recent utterances regarding prayer meetings being held for the ICC suspects betrays his panic.

“We shall not be cowed and shall continue with our peace meetings around the country preaching peace and unity,” the Gatundu South MP told a meeting attended by leaders of coffee farmers societies from Central Kenya at the Blue Post Hotel, Thika.

Mr Kenyatta accused the Prime Minister of double standards, saying Gema leaders were praised in 2010 when they met to convince their people to vote in favour of the new constitution.

He hit at those criticizing last weekend’s GEMA meeting in Limuru terming, them as “hypocrites and merchants of divisive politics.”

The former Finance Minister also hinted that he will soon resume his portfolio.

"It is just a matter of time before we get back the job which some people took away from us," he said amid applause.

"The next government which we shall form will be devoid of divisiveness. That is why we are going round the country uniting different communities. I am a national leader and above tribal politics," he said.

He was accompanied by MPs William Kabogo (Juja), Njuguna Kiburi (Lari), Peter Mwangi (Limuru), Njoroge Baiya (Githunguri) and civic leaders from Kiambu, Murang'a, Kirinyaga and Nyeri counties.

Mr. Kenyatta also hit out at foreign powers meddling in Kenya's politics, saying they should leave its citizens to conduct their own affairs.

"No foreigners will come to build our country, but we are welcoming development partners who are willing to co-operate," he said.

On coffee production, he told those leading farmers' societies to utilize the government's debt waiver to boost production, saying the crop was now fetching good prices.

The farmers organizations, he added, must invest in value addition to create wealth for members and employment for the youth.

Farmers expressed gratitude for the debt waiver that started last year, saying this has given the sector a new lease of life