Stop witch hunting and respect Ruto, Nairobi Jubilee MCAs tell Raila

Nairobi County Assembly Jubilee MCAs have expressed their displeasure with ODM leader Raila Odinga's attacks towards Deputy President William Ruto.

Led by Waithaka MCA Antony Kiragu, the legislators on Friday termed the accusations made by Raila at the recent Devolution Conference in Kirinyaga county as immature and uncalled for.

Speaking on Wednesday, Raila questioned how the DP knew that only Sh7 billion was reportedly lost in the project and not Sh21 billion as reported.

“If somebody is stealing money, do not go and shout there that Sh7 billion is nothing. Sh7 billion is not pocket change! Sio pesa ya kununua mandazi halafu wanaenda pande hii wanasema ooh sisi ni wakulima.. akitoka pale ooh mimi ni mfugaji.. yeye nikama popo," Raila said.

This loosely translates to Sh7 billion is not money for buying a snack then you go to the other side and say we are farmers...after that you go elsewhere and say we are pastoralists...he is like a bat.

Read: Sh7b isn't pocket change to buy Maandazis, Raila bashes Ruto over dam scandal

The MCAs said Raila's attacks on Ruto were utterly insensitive and condemned the utterances.

They said Ruto as the deputy president has an obligation and mandate to articulate government projects and defend the Jubilee manifesto.

“We demand respect for the Deputy President and the Jubilee Party,” said the legislators.

Nominated MCA Leah Naikane said the legislators are fully behind President Uhuru Kenyatta's war against corruption and his handshake with Raila.

“It is unfair for Raila to preach water but drink wine...If he does not support corruption he should not be pointing a finger towards Ruto. We will not entertain a witch hunt towards targeted at the DP,” she said.

Read also: You’re not above the law, Raila tells Ruto in war on corruption

The Jubilee ward reps said that the attacks are part of a choreographed scheme aimed at destroying the party.

They maintained that Ruto worked hard in the last two general elections to ensure Jubilee won.

The legislators also expressed their displeasure with other Jubilee leaders who kept silent at the gathering where Raila launched his attacks towards Ruto.

" I saw Jubilee governors, MPs, senators who were in that forum but dared not to say anything on the attacks. But in the fullness of time, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends," Kiragu said.