Raila urges Uhuru to embrace Jaramogi's ideals

Cord leader Raila Odinga on Sunday asked Jubilee to live by the ideals that his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, fought for when Kenya’s founding President Jomo Kenyatta was still in prison.

He said it was sad that the country, under the rule of President Uhuru Kenyatta, still suffered illiteracy, corruption, theft of public resources and poor health care.

Mr Odinga urged Mr Kenyatta to recognise the role that his father played in the clamour for independence.

The ODM leader said the country has received a raw deal since independence and it was time for Cord to take over the mantle of governing Kenya to the heights envisioned by the founders.

He said Jubilee must not be allowed a second term in office following allegations of corruption against the Treasury, Kenya Revenue Authority, Supreme Court, office of the Deputy President, among other state departments.

At the same time, he said the march for the presidency in 2017 by the Cord coalition led by himself, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula was unstoppable.

The Cord leader said the mediocrity of the government has ultimately given Kenyans a raw deal and the 2017 General Election will be a date for Kenyans to shape their destiny.

“Jubilee is keen on cancelling the gains achieved by the great people who worked with Jaramogi. We will not allow a reversal of gains on things that our founding fathers fought for,” Mr Odinga said.

The Cord leader said Jubilee has no regard for the constitution as it has continuously staged amendments to statute laws.

“We are telling Jubilee that we will not allow them to take us back to the dark days,” Mr Odinga said.

“We will not be cowed by attempts to silence us in our support bases or anywhere in this country,” he said. Mr Odinga spoke at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Bondo during the memorial service for his father and son Fidel Odinga.

“We will not allow agents of mediocrity to reverse the gains that we fought for in the new constitutional dispensation which they did not support in the first place. No force on earth can stop our quest to form the next government,” he said.

COME VOTE

The Cord team took a swipe at Jubilee, accusing it of using authorities such as the Kenya Revenue Authority to frustrate ODM members.

They said attempts to silence Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Senator Wetang’ula, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and other Cord supporters would not succeed.

Mr Odinga said the government must move with speed to reopen the Joho family premises which were closed.

“We condemn the frustration meted out on Joho. Let them reopen the warehouses as soon as possible,” Mr Odinga said.

Mr Wetang’ula said Jubilee should concentrate on explaining to Kenyans issues of the Eurobond, corruption at the Judiciary as well as their sources of funds.

“Why should it be difficult for them to explain how the Eurobond money was used? What they think is noise from Cord is substance for wananchi and will get them out of power,” Mr Wetang’ula said.

On the matter of corruption in the Judiciary, the Cord team said it will institute measures to see Mr Odinga’s presidential petition revisited.

“We will not sit and watch people attempt to rewrite the history of this country as if Jaramogi did not live to fight for us,” Mr James Orengo said.

The leaders asked their supporters to come out in large numbers and enrol as voters when the registers are opened next month.

Ms Martha Karua, Narc Kenya leader, said she will work with the Cord team since they shared the same ideals.

“That is why I have always asked you to look for votes all over the country beyond your strongholds,” Ms Karua said.