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Step down for me, Ruto tells Raila and Kalonzo
- Details
- Published on Monday, 04 June 2007 01:39
He said by supporting the two, Raila and Kalonzo had squandered their chances for the presidency.
"Both Raila’s and Musyoka’s time was used up by Moi and now Kibaki, whom they supported to win their respective presidential bids. They should support me on the grounds that I am young compared to them," he said.
Ruto said the Kenyan youth were to blame for voting older politicians into leadership positions. He accused the youth of ignoring their agemates, who could address their plight, in favour of older politicians. Kalonzo is 52 years old, while Raila is 60.
Kalonzo served as Cabinet minister in the Moi Government for many years, but broke away in 2002.
Raila, the Lang’ata MP, contested the presidency in 1997 and lost to Moi. In 2002, he threw his weight behind Kibaki to dislodge Kanu.
"Elderly people like Kibaki and (Simeon) Nyachae have served this country for too long. A befitting reward would be to retire them," he said.
Two-horse race
Ruto said that at 40, he was the most suited candidate for the presidency.
Speaking in Kisii on Sunday, Ruto said Kenyans would choose the most suitable candidate to vie for the presidency on the ODM-Kenya ticket.
The Kanu Secretary-General said Moi was his personal friend and that he (Moi) could support ODM-Kenya at an opportune time.
"Moi and I are still good friends and I can assure Kenyans that the retired Head of State will support the ODM-Kenya at the right time," he said.
MPs who accompanied Ruto included Mr Omingo Magara (South Mugirango) and Mr Phillip Rotino (Sigor).
They were speaking at various trading centres during a tour of Kisii and Gucha districts.
Ruto later presided over a funds drive in aid of 23 churches at Turwa Primary School in Bobasi. He said the General Election due next year would be a two-horse race between ODM-Kenya and Narc-Kenya, with no room for a third force.
He said the election would be reminiscent of the referendum on the draft constitution held last November.
Presidential ambitions
Ruto said there was no room for a third force in the current political setup.
In an apparent reference to Ford- Kenya, Ford-People and the National Party of Kenya, Ruto urged political parties to join either of the two blocs or risk being marginalised.
"Narc-Kenya is composed of those who supported the Wako draft, while the Orange team has regrouped under the ODM-Kenya party. We will use the same tactics used at the referendum to win the election," he said.
During the referendum, the Orange team floored the Government-backed Banana team by defeating the proposed new constitution.
Ruto said ODM-Kenya presidential aspirants would not let their ambition override the desire to give Kenyans good leadership.
"Many of our enemies are predicting that our presidential ambitions will see the ODM-Kenya dream go up in smoke, but I can assure Kenyans that we will rally behind one of us and make it to State House," he said.
He said the nomination of the party’s presidential candidate would not kill the spirit of unity in the party.
"We have declared interest in the seat, but we have also agreed to recognise that only one person can be president at a time," he said.
Ruto said ODM-Kenya would rally Kenyans to demand minimum reforms ahead of the General Election.
