Raila: Ruto entrenching tribalism in civil service

Azimio Leader Raila Odinga during a rally in Kilifi County on March 13, 2023. [Emmanuel Wanson, Standard]

Azimio leader Raila Odinga on Monday castigated President William Ruto's administration for "entrenching tribalism in the civil service".

Raila was speaking during a rally in Kilifi where he was accompanied by his running mate in last year's elections Martha Karua and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

He said professionals were being sacrificed on the altar of tribalism because they are perceived to be from tribes that did vote for Ruto.

"We are all stakeholders in one united Kenya and therefore we cannot tolerate people being discriminated against based on ethnicity," said Raila in Mtwapa.

He said his planned protest in Nairobi on March 20 was unstoppable, adding that the cost of living was beyond many Kenyans. Raila said all Kenyans of goodwill should join the protest.

Raila reiterated his claim that the election was rigged in favour of Ruto and challenged the electoral body to open the server to prove him wrong.

"Kenyans went hunting and killed the antelope but it was stolen and I must get it back," said Raila.

He said he would not be intimidated by threats of arrest.

He said Ruto had no plan to end the squatter problem at the Coast. Erstwhile ODM point-men at the Coast like former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and Eala MP Suleiman Shahbal were no show at the rallies.

Mr Joho and Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro were said to be out of the country. It was not clear why Shahbal did not attend.

Raila asked Kenyans to turn out in large numbers for the mother of all demonstrations in Nairobi on March 20 (Monday next week). He said they will hold a peaceful march to force President Ruto to open electoral servers.

Raila said Kenyans have the power of removing the Ruto government because he was violating the laws of the country.

"Since some MPs have been auctioned by Ruto, Kenyans should now rise and exercise the rights to replace a bad government led by President Ruto," said Raila.

Karua, the Narc Kenya leader, said Kenyans should be ready to die for their rights by fighting against the "fake government".

Karua said the fight being championed by the Azimio brigade was not Raila's or Kalonzo's but for the oppressed Kenyan who wants the cost of living to come down.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka dismissed claims by the government that the economy started recovering.

"If you are saying the economy is improving why is the shilling performing poorly in the world market, trading at Sh140?," asked Kalonzo.