Jubilee MP demands apology from Raila

Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has demanded an apology from ODM leader Raila Odinga over the utterances associated with a section of MPs on Monday attacking DP Ruto over 2022 presidency.

In a statement posted on hi social media pages, Mr Wambugu, termed Monday’s press conference by a section of MPs allied to Nasa, as a “personalized press attack on the Deputy President by ODM leaders,” adding that the move was uncalled-for.

As the ODM party leader, Raila Odinga, Wambugu has said, should tender his apology to the DP for undermining his office.

“William Ruto is the Deputy President of Kenya and Uhuru Kenyatta’s principal assistant. Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga are currently in a unity project together. This unity project requires mutual respect from all sides for it to become real to Kenyans.”

“Attacking the DP in such a personal way is unfortunate for a party that continues to insist that they respect Uhuru Kenyatta and the handshake between him and Raila. It’s also just the kind of thing that makes the ‘Building Bridges’ initiative a walking target for those who prefer war, to peace.”

He has therefore demanded an apology form the ODM leader, whom he is accusing of taking advantage of the handshake he had with President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 9.

ALSO READ: Murkomen under fire after tweet about Raila

“I therefore ask Raila Odinga as leader of ODM - in the spirit of the handshake - to apologize to William Ruto for that press statement by ODM and assure Kenyans that personal attacks will not be allowed going forward,” he said.

Ruto attacked

On Monday, Deputy President William Ruto was on the firing line of opposition leader Raila Odinga’s lieutenants, who told him off for criticising the Building Bridges initiative between Mr Odinga and Kenyatta, and also for warning that Mr Odinga is a dictator who is not fit to lead the country.

Mr Ruto made the hard-hitting claims on Sunday in Nandi County, and on Monday Mr Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement dismissed the Deputy President as a leader who thrives in politics of lies, commotion, hate, and division, and also asked him to come clean on the “smell of corruption that permanently swirls around him”.

In Nairobi, four MPs accused Mr Ruto of blackmailing President Kenyatta and holding the country hostage in his bid to lead the country in 2022, while in Nakuru Jubilee-allied leaders rose to defend the beleaguered Deputy President.