ODM leader Raila Odinga has for the first time revealed he was willing to support Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i for the country’s top seat.
Speaking during a funds drive for Mwongori High School in Borabu constituency, Nyamira county, Raila said he was initially more than willing to back Matiang’i to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022.
He, however, said the plan was vacated after assessing the ground and entered a mutual agreement to have the CS support him instead.
“One time I said I was ready to support Matiang’i but later on when we did a review and looked at how the forest was looking like, he told me that you should go to the forest first,” Raila said.
But the ODM boss was clear he will walk together with the powerful cabinet minister who he described as witty and hardworking.
“Fred Matiang’i is very intelligent and a hardworking person. He has continued to be very dedicated as a minister and I know President Uhuru Kenyatta has a lot of faith in him.”
“We are going to walk together with Fred.”
On his part, Matiang’i declared support for the ODM leader saying majority of Kenyans are with Uhuru and the ODM leader.
“I will do everything the President tells me faithfully with absolute loyalty and focus to serve my country,” the CS said.
“Since the handshake, I have sat down with Raila and we have had discussions.”
The CS said the President Uhuru and Raila still enjoy massive support across the country.
“You know what I do for a living in this country, I am the minister of Interior, I look across the country … the majority of our people are where the President and Raila is.”
The fundraiser was attended by, among others, Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, Health PS Susan Mochache and Infrastructure CAS Chris Obure.
Others in attendance were Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo, his Kisii counterpart James Ongwae, Nyamira Speaker Moffat Teya, Nyamira Senator Okong'o Omogeni, Borabu MP Ben Momanyi and Woman Representative Jerusha Momanyi.
Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka, His Kitutu Chache counterpart Jimmy Angwenyi,Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati, Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, Solicitor General Ken Ogeto and a host of MCAs also attended.
Kagwe said Mt Kenya owes the ODM leader a political debt for supporting key leaders from the region to ascend to the presidency.
He cited Jaramogi’s refusal to lead the country until founding President Jomo Kenyatta was released and the 2002 Kibaki Tosha declaration by the former Prime Minister.
“Anytime you want this nation to move, Mount Kenya and Nyanza have to come together because we want the country to move. Why then can't we do what we have done since independence?” Kagwe said.
Raila said it is not the time for the country to be divided into ethnic communities, stating that is what informed his decision to have a handshake with President Uhuru.
"There is a time that Kenya was almost torn apart because of ethnicity, and I want to ensure we do not go that direction," Raila said.
Momanyi – who is a Wiper elected MP – urged the region to rally behind the ODM leader in his State House bid.
Ongwae said the remaining part is now to convince the Gusii members of Parliament who are in other political parties to join Raila camp.
"The Gusii people are very clear where they are going, we will not go back. I was in the Mount Kenya region and I can confirm things have really changed," Ongwae said.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Nyaribo who said the community has decided to support Raila and urged the community not to follow any other route.
"Some people cannot convince our country to vote them as president simply because they are not visionary," Nyaribo said.