By WILLIS OKETCH and PATRICK BEJA

Prime Minister Raila Odinga downplayed the emerging political rivalry between him and his deputy Musalia Mudavadi as he concluded three-day coast tour on Monday.

He said he and Mudavadi were merely going round the country to meet party delegates after the recent grassroots polls.

"I want to discount media propaganda that Mudavadi and I are in intensified campaigns for the ODM ticket. We are going round the country to meet party delegates who were elected recently," Raila said.

He spoke at the Wild Waters Centre where he met about 240 delegates from Changamwe, Likoni, Mvita and Kisauni who endorsed him as the party’s presidential flag bearer.

At the same time, Raila explained that grievances raised by the Mombasa Republican Council originated from marginalisation of the Coast region by successive governments.

He said land ownership and lack of opportunities including jobs and grinding poverty led to the disquiet in the region.

"The MRC youth are carrying the Kenya si Pwani placards to express their frustration because of many years of discrimination. This requires a political solution and not the use of force. We should ask them why they are saying so," Raila said.

Earlier, Lands minister James Orengo said MRC should be legalised so as to facilitate talks and resolve any dispute.

Orengo commended Raila for agreeing to open dialogue with MRC so as to put the matter to rest ahead of the elections.

"There is no need of condemning the group unheard because it appears they have genuine grievances over historical injustices," Orengo said.

PRAYER FOR SUSPECTS

Changamwe MP, Mr Ramadhan Kajembe, Msambweni MP Omar Zonga and Fisheries minister Mr Amason Kingi led delegates in declaring Raila the party presidential candidate.

Assistant minister in the Prime Minister’s office and Kanduyi MP Alfred Khang’ati said most counties in Western Province have endorsed Raila for presidency to ensure implementation of the Constitution.

Khang’ati also asked pastors to stop praying for The Hague Four suspects and think of victims of the post-election violence.

Raila asked a Mombasa politician Mr Suleiman Shahbal to quit ODM if he cannot abide by the rules and the party constitution.

"Since he resorted to the courts, he should now quit the party instead of trying to wreck it from within," he said.