LONDON,United Kingdom,Mar,15 – Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader and Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga is in the United Kingdom for a week long tour that will see him hold several meetings with senior UK government officials as well as meet Kenyans living in the diaspora.
Odinga left Kenya for the UK on Sunday alongside notable political allies including Peter Kenneth and Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu and was Monday received by Kenya’s High Commissioner Manoah Esipisu.
The former prime minister Tuesday met UK minister for Armed Forces James Heappey where they held discussions centering on security with a view of enhancing further relations in the near future.
Later this evening, during an interview with the BBC, Odinga was put to task over his presidential ambitions and his relationship with his long time political foe come friend, president Uhuru Kenyatta who has openly endorsed his bid for the the country’s top seat.
“I am not the one who decided (to vie for the presidency) It is Kenyans who asked me…they wanted me to continue because they have faith in me,” said Odinga.
The BBC’s Sophie Ikenye put Odinga to task over his previous statement that the 2017 elections would be his last further pointing to his now famous, ‘one bullet’ remark alluding to a do or die situation regarding his political career.
“You said you only have one bullet,people are asking how many bullets do you have?” posed Ikenye to which Odinga responded by saying that, “one bullet may have remained but the gun still has a machete,” Referring to the bayonet fitted on the muzzle of some rifles.
The ODM leader also defended the integrity of the August polls expressing his faith and support for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conduct a free and fair election while at the same time criticizing deputy president William Ruto for casting aspersions on the electoral process.
“We want the IEBC to be fair and conduct its work properly, I believe the elections will be free and fair. During the previous elections, when we expressed our concerns, they said the election was free and fair and that we were making noise and not accepting the outcome of the elections now he is the one saying they will conduct parallel tallying exercise…..the question we have is, when was the constitution changed?” posed Odinga while referring to the condemnation they underwent during the previous polls while mooting the idea of setting up a parallel vote tallying center.
The former prime minister rubbished claims that he is president Kenyatta’s political ‘project or puppet’ saying the he is his own man and the right person to transform the country’s economic fortunes while steering it into the future.
The handshake which gained notoriety in some quarters of the political divide was said to have cemented the fate of the country’s opposition which was tasked with putting the government in check but slowly turned into a government ‘mouth-piece’ according to critics.
“The country was falling apart, that is why we decided to sit down together, talk and find a lasting solution,” said Odinga during the interview with the BBC.
Kenyatta has openly criticized his deputy for being a ‘deterrent’ and an obstacle as he strived to realize his pledge to Kenyans and cement his own political legacy.
Deputy president William Ruto however denied the claims accusing his boss of, abandoning him alongside other in favor of Odinga.
Meanwhile Odinga however said that he would seek to build on Kenyatta’s development agenda that has seen massive infrastructural projects launched nationwide.
“Kenyans know what we have done (referring to his track record and policies) We will enhance current projects like connecting Kenyans to electricity and providing access to clean water,” he said.
On the war in Ukraine, Odinga has called on the international community to work together in order to avert a further humanitarian crisis in the country while at the same time condemning racist actions meted on Africans as they fled the war.
As part of his itinerary, Odinga is scheduled to hold talks with UK Prime Minister’s trade envoy to Kenya Theo Clarke at Westminster.
On Wednesday, Raila will meet with Lord Tarif Ahmad, the UK Minister for South Asia, North Africa, the United Nations and the Commonwealth -Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
He is also set to speak at the Chatham House before finally on Thursday, meeting Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
He will then finally address Kenyans living in the UK at the Holiday Inn, Kensington.
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