Carry your own baggage, CORD leader Raila Odinga tells Deputy President William Ruto

Former Prime Raila Odinga will not take DP William Ruto‘s offer for a political fight. Instead, Raila wants his former Rift Valley point man to carry his own cross on corruption accusations levelled against him and deal with problems afflicting Rift Valley residents.

Raila sensationally claimed that Ruto has failed to protect his people from marauding cattle rustlers and has no moral authority to challenge him for a political contest.

And speaking in Baringo during his a tour of the cattle rustling prone areas of Baringo South constituency, Raila said instead of concentrating on serving Kenyans, those in office have trained their guns on him. "I have never attacked Ruto, so I do not know what he wants. I don‘t even know about his deal with Herbert Ojwang," said Raila in an interview with The Standard on Sunday.

Ruto has dared Raila to a political contest, accusing the latter of using Ojwang‘, his former personal assistant, to malign his name in the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital‘s Sh28 billion saga. But Raila denies the claims and refutes that Ojwang‘ is his aide. “He worked with me long time ago when I was Minister for Energy during the Kanu era in 2001 and 2002, but he later joined former President Kibaki‘s side after 2003,“ said Raila.

The former President allegedly made him a director at Kenyatta National Hospital, where he probably made his connections for business deals in the health sector. Raila, however, admitted he occasionally bumps on Ojwang‘ when he goes to the gym at Nairobi club.

Political fight

Speaking during the commissioning of a new Kenya Power Substation in Muthurwa, Nairobi, this week, Ruto hit out at the former premier, daring him for a political fight.
But Raila is not even comfortable discussing Ruto‘s swipe at his face, arguing that the DP was using him to divert attention so that Kenyans can lose focus on the serious graft claims. “This is purely a deal gone sour between the two of them but I have nothing to do with it. It is like a thief who shouts thief! thief! when being chased to divert attention so that he can escape the chasing mob. That used to happen in the estate where I grew up,“ said Raila.

Ojwang‘ appeared before PIC last week, and alleged that the procurement of a Sh28 billion contract for construction of a new referral hospital in Eldoret was a scandal that would see Kenyans fleeced of Sh11 billion. Ruto claims Ojwang‘ is Raila‘s personal assistant and had falsely linked him to the scandal. The project is now under investigation by the Public Investment Committee (PIC) over allegations that the cost had been fraudulently inflated.

Elbowed out?

It is also alleged Ruto used his position to elbow Ojwang‘ from the deal, despite the DP having assured him of getting the job.

According to Ojwang‘, Ruto ordered the upgrading of the hospital stopped and directed that a new hospital be built at the prison farm at a cost of Sh28 billion.

Ruto has confirmed that he stopped the rehabilitation contract because it was unprocedurally procured and that he will not apologise for cancellation of the contract.

The DP says Raila and Ojwang‘ attempted to rip off taxpayers money and dragged his name into the scandal. "My friend the former Prime Minister and his PA must keep off from me and if they are interested in a political duel, I am ready," Ruto said. PIC has said it will analyse the allegations before determining whether it is worth probing.

“We have asked the whistle-blower to provide us with more information. Once he brings (the information) we will look at the nature of the allegations and make a decision (on whether to proceed with the probe),“ said PIC chairman Adan Keynan.

Raila has asked Ruto to concentrate on what is happening in Baringo, Turkana and West Pokot so that people there can live peacefully.

He also dismissed claims he was touring Rift Valley to campaign and regain his political foothold. “This is not the time for campaigns. We should have gone to Baringo last month but another burning engagement cropped up, then I travelled to China,“ said Raila.

He described the situation in Baringo as “very grave“ and said the on-goings in Turkana and West Pokot were equally worrying.