DP Ruto says ODM leader Raila Odinga is a State-sponsored project

Deputy President William Ruto has branded Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga a State-sponsored project.

Ruto, who campaigned in Lamu on Tuesday, declared that he is ready to face Odinga in what he says would be a resounding victory for the hustler movement in the 2022 presidential contest.

The DP spoke on a campaign tour that has taken him through five counties in six days, saying Odinga is being imposed on Kenyans.

He accused his governing Jubilee Party of hiring an outsider as the party's presidential candidate.

“Watu milioni nane tuliosimama kidete mpaka tukaunda serikali, eti kwa sababu wamevunja chama ya Jubilee, watulazimishe twende tutafute candidate wa kukodesha kutoka upinzani akuje akuwe candidate wetu sisi ambao tuliunda serikali hii, hiyo haiwezekani. Mnakubali mambo ya project?” Posed Ruto.

Odinga has held a series of meetings with influential business magnates from Central Kenya.

The former premier has equally been on the campaign trail in Mt. Kenya in a bid to clip the perceived influence of the deputy president in the region.

A defiant Ruto described Odinga’s Mt. Kenya campaign as State-sponsored machinations that will not deter him.

Ruto claimed that the State had hatched a plot to derail his presidential campaign, warning that his hustler movement is unstoppable.

“”Msijali na hawa wanatusumbua, tutawashinda. Wamejaribu kunipangia huko, lakini vile wamenipangia, mimi pia nimewapangia mbaya sana, hawawezi. Sisi ndio tuliunda hiyo serikali ilipita, sasa hii tutashindwa kuunda? Bwana kitendawili atatembea nyumbani mapema sana,” he said.

Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa said: “Mnaona hawa watu ambao wanahangaika kumpangia naibu wa rais, ni kwa sababu wamejua uwezo wa kuchagua rais wa jamhuri ya Kenya uko katika mikono ya mwananchi. Sasa wale wakijipanga, sisi pia tunajipanga kama ma-hustlers.”

The DP said the 2022 presidential contest will be settled on the question of whose economic blueprint will transform the country.

“Barabara ndio hiyo tumetengeneza na Uhuru Kenyatta…stima tumeweka hapa…TTI tumejenga hapa…wale wanashindana na mimi watakuja kusema nini? Walikuwa makamu wa rais na ma Prime Minister, si wangefanya ata quarter ya ile mimi nimefanya hapa ndio tuweze kushindana,” said Ruto.

Nyali MP Mohammed Ali said: “Walisema ‘nobody can stop reggae’…remote ya kusimamisha reggae ilikuwa na wananchi wa Kenya, tukasimamisha reggae, siku hizi wanaenda wakicheza ile inaitwa ‘one love’ ya kujibembeleza roho.”

Ruto's allies called for the reopening of the economy saying the prolonged curfew continues to hurt ordinary Kenyans.

“Hii curfew tuliwekewa sababu ya corona, haiwezekani ni curfew usiku pekee yake na mchana hakuna corona. Ma-hustler wengi wanauza githeri, chapati, samaki…lakini rais wetu amesahau kuna watu wetu wanaofanya biashara usiku, na wanumia,” said Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa.