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I haven’t asked for your support, Raila tells Kalonzo

ODM leader Raila Odinga has said his primary focus now is the constitutional amendment through the BBI, not 2022 politics. [File, Standard]

ODM leader Raila Odinga has thrown a silent salvo at Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka after he said he will not support him in the presidential bid in 2022 polls, saying he is yet to declare his candidature.

Speaking during the launch of Cath Lab at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in Mombasa, on Thursday, June 17, Raila told off politicians talking about 2022 polls, telling them to relax and wait for the right time.

The former Prime Minister wondered why some people were already talking about his presidential bid when he is yet to declare his interest.

“Some people are barking that they will not support Raila, let them relax, I have not declared to run neither have I asked for their support,” he said.

Raila was responding to the Wiper leader’s remarks when he appeared on NTV on Wednesday night.

During the interview, Kalonzo said he would be the most "stupid fellow on earth" if he were to back the ODM leader in the next general election.

"As of now, it is unthinkable that one Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka would support Raila for the third time," he said, adding that if all fails he would rather retire and go back to his Tseikuru home.

Raila said his primary focus now is the constitutional amendment through the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), expressing confidence that the Appellate Court will rule in favour of the law changes.

The ODM leader downplayed the recent High Court ruling that declared the BBI constitutional amendment null and void is a brief break and they will soon resume.

“Don’t worry, BBI has just taken a temporary break and will resume once the impediments are removed,” he said.

He said the BBI wants to copy the Nigeria governance model where over 55 per cent of resources are devolved to the grassroots.

“In Nigeria, 20 per cent goes to counties government, 35 the state to the federal and the remaining 45 per cent goes to the federal government,” he said.

Raila said the 2010 Constitution capped the devolved funds to not less than 15 per cent, but the national government is yet to give more than hence the need to raise it and cap it at 35 per cent.

“The current 15 per cent goes to recurrent expenditure and salaries leaving the development projects with very little funds.”

Raila was accompanied by Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho among other Coast political leaders.