Raila, Mudavadi told to stop war of words

Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his deputy Musalia Mudavadi were on Tuesday asked to conduct peaceful political campaigns. A cross section of leaders expressed alarm at the threats by campaign teams of Mr Odinga and Mr Mudavadi to expose each other’s dirt as they seek votes to succeed President Kibaki.

Cabinet ministers Fred Gumo, Musa Sirma, former nominated MP Mark Too and grassroots leaders from Western Province spoke of the need for political aspirants to exercise restraint in their campaigns. Mr Gumo, the Regional Development minister said ODM was not party to the statement issued by the director of communications at the PM’s secretariat Barrack Muluka. “ODM is not Raila and Raila is not ODM,” he said adding that the Premier was just a member of the party like any other member. In Nakuru, Mr Sirma accused Mr Mudavadi of insincerity.

“Mr Mudavadi’s ideologies seem unchanged because they are characterised by his desire to receive leadership from a silver plate or through inheritance,” he said.

Mr Too, in Eldoret said it was wrong for both teams to discredit each other while they had worked as a team before parting ways. “What Kenyans need is a peaceful transition that will elevate the image of our country globally when President Kibaki retires,” said Mr Too, an MP during the Kanu regime. In Mumias, local leaders warned that the confrontational style of politics the pair had resorted to would negate gains achieved in promoting national integration in the last four years.

“It was not right for Mr Odinga and Mr Mudavadi to hurl insults at each other in public rallies and at funerals at the expense of integrity,” Mr Abdalla Ismael Wanyama, the chairman of business people in the province said.

Source: Nation

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