Uhuru: Raila is Not a State Project, He is the People’s Project

President Kenyatta has dismissed claims that ODM leader Raila Odinga is a State project.

Deputy President William Ruto and his allies have recently branded Odinga a State project, claiming that President Kenyatta was using government machinery to campaign for the ODM leader, who is giving his fifth stab at the presidency this year.

But speaking at ODM National Delegates Conference (NDC) at Kasarani Stadium on Saturday, Kenyatta noted that Ruto and his brigade have resorted to direct their frustrations at Odinga after sensing defeat.

“Due to lack of ideas and the fear of being defeated, Raila’s competitors have now resorted to branding him a project. If Raila is anyone’s project, he is the project of the people of Kenya. Raila is not my project and neither is he a State project,” Uhuru stated.

He added: “If you have failed in organizing yourself and has panicked, the easiest thing is to call your competitor a project.”

At the same time, the president described Odinga as a peaceful and forgiving statesman, who consistently and tirelessly works hard for the peace, unity, and progress of the Kenyan nation.

Kenyatta observed that that contrary to how he is portrayed by some of his political detractors, Odinga has proved over the years to be a genuine leader who has the interests of the country at heart.

“It is not Raila who is a man of war. If he was a man of war he would have resisted any attempt at peace between him and (former President) Kibaki. If he was a man of war he would have resisted any attempts at making the handshake happen,” Kenyatta added.

“If Raila was a warmonger, he would still be agitating and protesting. A man who looks and understands the causes of violence is a peacemaker. I want to dissuade Kenyans from the perception that Raila loves war. Raila is a peacemaker.”

He added that Raila Odinga has on many occasions sacrificed personal ambition for the sake of the country. “A politician thinks of what he can get at that moment in time but a leader thinks of the country, the future of the people, and their children’s children,” Uhuru noted.