Stop blackmailing us, Ruto tells Raila

President William Ruto at Merigi Shopping Centre in Bomet County during a tour in the region. [Elly Okware, Standard] President William Ruto has warned opposition leader Raila Odinga against engaging in blackmail and shifting goalposts in ongoing talks. Ruto accused Raila of frustrating the talks and using street protests to exert pressure on the government. The President said the country is tired of Raila's theatrics that were pulling back development gains through destruction. "Enough is enough with the destruction by leaders with selfish interests and who do not mean good for the country. I will not allow any more destruction of property in the name of protest and push for the opening of servers," he said. The President said he was committed to the bipartisan talks that are set to be undertaken by Parliamentarians but asserted that the Azimio la Umoja side had exhibited a lot of arrogance and a sense of entitlement. "By forming the committees, we showed goodwill. We are carrying these talks fully aware and convinced that we won the last election. But we have seen hypocrisy, arrogance, and undermining from the other side," said Mr Ruto. He said he would not be distracted from his development agenda and vowed to continue with the projects that had stalled during the last regime. "We are looking forward to working together. The election is over. We shall not be blackmailed. We shall not be cowed," said Ruto. Speaking in Kajiado and Bomet where he launched development projects, the Head of State said he was fixing many things including improving the road network, water, and social welfare of Kenyans, and would only work with those willing to change the lives of Kenyans. The President was accompanied by his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, among other leaders. He said the talks by MPs would discuss important issues but not those that were meant for personal gain. The firm statement by Ruto came on the day Mr Odinga returned from abroad and declared that the talks would happen alongside street demonstrations that would start afresh on Tuesday next week. Deputy President said Azimio had mistaken the olive branch extended to them by the president as a weakness. "Azimio leaders are mistaking the President's leniency for weakness after he offered them an olive branch through talks in Parliament and they should be told that they either toe the line and pursue talks or go to the streets and be dealt with by the police," he said. Mudavadi asked the opposition led by Raila Odinga to borrow a cue from the pronouncement by former President Uhuru Kenyatta that the election was over and Kenyans should move on. "One of their own Uhuru Kenyatta spoke and they should follow suit and allow us to work for Kenyans," Mudavadi said. Mr Gachagua declared that he would protect the President from the political pressure being exerted by the Azimio side on the President and acknowledged that he would not stop being a hardliner. "The President has stood firm. I will continue standing firmer on his side because the people of Kenyans made a decision at the ballot. We shall not allow chaos and anarchy in this country," said Mr Gachagua. Governor Lenku steered clear of attacks against his ODM Party leader and instead stuck on his government working with the Kenya Kwanza government.

Stop blackmailing us, Ruto tells Raila

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Stop blackmailing us, Ruto tells Raila

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