Uhuru Kenyatta says ready to work with Raila Odinga

Uhuru Kenyatta says ready to work with Raila Odinga

President Uhuru Kenyatta Tuesday told Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) leader Raila Odinga that he was ready to work with him.

President Kenyatta said Kenya needs development and he is ready to work with Mr Odinga to achieve this.

After months of public squabbling between Jubilee and Cord over issues ranging from whether leaders should talk to each other, need for referendum, public appointments and insecurity among other issues, President Kenyatta termed this as unnecessary.

The President, Mr Odinga and former President Mwai Kibaki met during a funeral mass for a former Cabinet Minister Dr Njoroge Mungai at Thogoto PCEA church in Kikuyu, Kiambu County.

Dr Mungai was in former President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s Cabinet.

The matter of leaders squabbling was initiated by Mr Kibaki who said they should come together and develop the country.

Mr Odinga steered clear of politics during his speech delivered before President Kenyatta spoke.

The President said there was no time for squabbles and unnecessary fights among leaders, saying that leaders should work together.

“I can see my brother Raila here and I can assure him that I have no problem, I look forward to working with him and I believe that is what Kenyan people want of us. To pull together like past leaders,” the President said.

The sentiments appeared to refer to the ongoing squabbles between Jubilee leaders and Cord leaders over calls for referendum.

Mr Odinga and his Cord alliance brigade are spearheading the referendum while President Kenyatta and his team have opposed it, saying it’s ill-timed and a waste of public recourses, leading the headed political fights.

Mr Odinga kept off politics and instead concentrated on praising Dr Mungai who he said played key roles in education, politics and entrepreneurship as well as the fight for education.

‘TOO MUCH QUARRELLING’

Former president Mwai Kibaki said leaders should shun squabbles and instead focus on improving development in the country.

“There is too much quarrelling between ourselves but let us respect the life of Dr Mungai by making Kenya prosperous because fighting among yourselves, you will not achieve much by quarrelling,” Mr Kibaki said.

The former president praised the leadership of his successor, saying he was confident that President Kenyatta would deliver results as he had spearheaded many development projects for the short time he had been in office.

Former Gatundu MP Ngengi Muigai said leaders who were in high schools in the 60s should let the young generation which he referred to as Jubilee to lead.

He asked President Kenyatta not to accept any form of power sharing.

“They overcame internal and external forces to get to leadership. We are sure you will achieve the dreams you have for this country and I have no doubts will take this nation higher,” he said, adding that it’s not the time Kenyans are being warned that choices have consequences.

“We lived together along Ngong road, and people used to come there to discuss how and why the country should get independence and it was really exciting to hear Dr Mungai and others say ‘as a country we require this independence’.”

Other leaders who were present, including Cabinet Secretaries, were not allowed to speak.

Also present were Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, Senator Kimani Wamatangi, Kimani Ichungwa (Kikuyu), Paul Koinange (Kiambaa) John Kirangu (Limuru), Moses Ole Sakunda, Moses Kuria (Gatundu South)

After the service, the body of Dr Mungai, who died after a short illness, was ferried to Langata for cremation.

-nation.co.ke