Jubilee dares West to ‘openly back Raila’

[Ab-Titchaz]

Jubilee dares West to ‘openly back Raila'

By TOM MATOKE tmatoke@ke.nationmedia.com AND GERALD ANDAE gandae@ke.nationmedia.com

Posted Sunday, February 10 2013 at 18:57

In Summary

• Uhuru and Ruto say Kenya can realise growth without the foreign countries

The Jubilee Alliance has challenged foreign countries that are against the election of Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto to openly state if their preferred candidate is Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Speaking in Nandi County on Sunday, the two leaders said foreign nations were using threats and intimidation to scare their supporters.

"These nations should stop playing about issues, they should come out openly and tell Kenyans that they are supporting Raila Odinga. We will not have a problem with that," said Mr Ruto.

He added that Kenyans should be left to elect people of their choice to lead the country to economic prosperity without being influenced by external forces.

Mr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta are facing crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

A number of western nations including the US and Britain have warned of "consequences" should Kenyans elect the two ICC suspects.

But Mr Ruto on Sunday claimed that what America and Britain had done was tantamount to using violence to intimidate voters.

"There is no difference between what the foreign countries are doing and those who use violence to threaten voters," said Mr Ruto.

Mr Kenyatta said Kenya was not under colonial rule and should therefore be left to take care of its affairs.

He added that Kenya would not stall economically if these foreign countries pulled out.

"Britain was helping us with funds for free education, but they made a lot of noise and we gave them back their money. This has not stopped our free primary education policy," said Mr Kenyatta.

The Deputy Premier said Kenya would work with countries that are friendly to the country and avoid those who feel Kenya should not have contact with them.

http://elections.nation.co.ke/news/...a---/-/1631868/1690220/-/12p3kma/-/index.html

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Jubilee: Western envoys imposing leaders on voters


By Luke Anami and Michael Chepkwony

Nandi, Kenya: Jubilee candidates have made an attack on the Western diplomats claiming they support CORD presidential candidate Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The candidates were on their fourth day of campaigns in the North Rift region.

Jubilee presidential flag bearer Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto for the second day running accused US, French and British envoys of undermining democracy by dictating to Kenyans the leaders they should elect, saying they should come out clean on whom they support instead of issuing veiled threats at their candidature.

"Western diplomats should not dance around issues. They should tell us they support Raila and we will meet at the ballot," Ruto said at a rally on Sunday in Nandi Hills.

Ruto claimed US diplomat Johnnie Carson and the British High Commissioner support Raila.

Advocate for violence

He said statements made by the foreign envoys were tantamount to threats and intimidation to their supporters to vote a certain way. He equated those who use threats and intimidation to those who use violence.

"They should stop telling us that if you vote a certain way there will be consequences. There is no difference between those who issue threats and intimidation and those who advocate for violence. It's too bad for them because its Kenyans who will decide," Ruto said during the rally attended by Jubilee's bigwigs including Water minister Charity Ngilu, Nairobi senator aspirant on TNA ticket Mike Mbuvi ‘Sonko', Joyce Laboso and Rachel Shebesh.

On agriculture, he said farmers should take part in the Nairobi Stock Exchange. The economy, he said, will be technology based which will engage the youth in all sectors so that it grows by 10 per cent per year, adding that Jubilee government will equip schools with computers to facilitate IT learning.

Uhuru voiced his concern over claims by Western diplomats that Kenyans should not vote for Ruto and he because the two were facing crimes against humanity charges at the ICC.

"We wish to inform Western diplomats that they should allow voters to make their own choice. We have agreed to submit ourselves to the will of the people. We shall therefore not succumb to threats and intimidation," Uhuru explained.

Mature Democracy

He dismissed allegations that he united with Ruto because of the ICC cases. Instead, he said he was a law-abiding citizen and would adhere to the ICC process till the end of the proceedings whether he won or not.

"We know we are innocent but we believe in the rule of law. Whether in government or not, we will follow through the process of ICC," he added.

Speaking at a rally in Nandi Hills during their second day of campaigns in Nandi County, Uhuru challenged a section of Western countries to show the infrastructure they have put in place in Kenya.

"Let the British say the last time they funded a road, a school or a hospital. They called on Kenya to refund FPE money and it did. But our children still continue going to school," he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister said Kenya is a mature democracy and it is set to determine its own destiny. "Kenya trades more with its neighbours such as Uganda than with others," said Uhuru.

"We will team up with our neighbours and other partners of goodwill to steer Kenya forward."

Najib Balala told Western diplomats to disclose whom their preferred presidential candidate is. "In 2007 we were in Pentagon but now Raila has no one else but his European friends. They should therefore tell us whom they prefer," he said.

Ngilu termed the ICC as a conspiracy of Western governments to stop the Uhuru/Ruto leadership. She promised free maternity health services for women should Jubilee coalition win this year's elections.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?art...ee:-Western-envoys-imposing-leaders-on-voters

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

This is some unnecessary bravado to say the least. Only a fool doesnt understand how Kenya's economy is tied to the
West ever since pre and post colonial days. This chest thumping is serving no purpose and as a matter of fact there are
8 presidential candidates and the West hasn't said whom they prefer. Why are these two honcho's picking on Raila?

Sample what a Kenyan blogger says below:

Until historical land injustices are sorted out Kikuyus and Kelenjins you're still in for another fight. Election rigging was just a scapegoat, therefore Ruto is not being accused because he belonged to ODM. Can you ask yourself, the Kalenjins never had a presidential contender why would they cause more havoc than any other tribe, including burning people who had sort refuge in a place of worship? If you think these guys have no case to answer why is it that the government refused to cooperate with Ocampo when he wanted to interview the security people (police) who were in charge of those areas that were highly affected? Why do you think the government wanted these cases to be handled back at home?


The fight was beyond election rigging and therefore other tribes were just caught up in the crossfire. Others were victims of circumstances because they belonged to a tribe that was claiming the election was rigged. So the fight mainly between Kikuyus verses Kalenjin- land period.


Good Wisdom: This is not the last general election in Kenya, Uhuru and Ruto if they had leadership wisdom they should have stayed out of this election until cleared of any wrong doing. But because of their self serving interests, they preferred to go down with the whole country. It's not fair for an individual to place his interest above the nation, and then naively claim that Kenya can do without the international development partners. How can Kenya handle climate change and global warming effects alone without the world community, for instance? How's Kenya going handle the growth of green economy without collaboration with the international community?

If the international community slams sanctions on Kenya, all those issues they have promised in their manifesto will remain empty dreams until the time they will be voted out bitterly.

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

To me Uhuruto are making more sense than CORD.

Can't wait for the debate later on today.

I'm putting my stock on dark horse to shine.

Don't sleep on Martha Karua.

 

[Crucial Man]

Hawa jamaa wa jubilee wanawatakia wakenya wa kawaida maisha magumu.sasa kama walikula pesa za free primary education walitegemea wahisani wakae kimya.wao watoto wao wanasoma shule nzuri wanataka watoto wa maskini wakose misaada.ningekuwa mkenya kura yangu wasingeipata.sigara kubwa nayo ikizidi mtu anaropoka tu.

 

[Kabaridi]

This is some unnecessary bravado to say the least. Only a fool doesnt understand how Kenya's economy is tied to the
West ever since pre and post colonial days. This chest thumping is serving no purpose and as a matter of fact there are
8 presidential candidates and the West hasn't said whom they prefer. Why are these two honcho's picking on Raila?

Sample what a Kenyan blogger says below:

Until historical land injustices are sorted out Kikuyus and Kelenjins you're still in for another fight. Election rigging was just a scapegoat, therefore Ruto is not being accused because he belonged to ODM. Can you ask yourself, the Kalenjins never had a presidential contender why would they cause more havoc than any other tribe, including burning people who had sort refuge in a place of worship? If you think these guys have no case to answer why is it that the government refused to cooperate with Ocampo when he wanted to interview the security people (police) who were in charge of those areas that were highly affected? Why do you think the government wanted these cases to be handled back at home?

what you are translating as bravado is the simple plea by the pair to the envoys and diplomatic community not to influence how kenyans vote. because of late carson has been issuing warnings of unspecified consequences. if one chapter in the constitution of kenya approves the democratic right for any candidate to run for elective office, why should priority be given people that carry and represent international interests supersede that of someone who is a Kenyan by origin.

The late prof saitoti used to say that the interests of the kenyan people should always come first. i agree that those guilty must prove their innocence.. we appreciate ur efforts though the understanding of the ICC issue must not be confined to sanctions and embargoes alone. Of late there was a witness that has been withdrawn by the ICC that discredits the process and then ICC continued to say they are being pursed, claims that they have failed to substanciate.

anything that is international must be credible, but ICC is not credible, I will throw a question to you which i know you won't give. Which head of state outside africa has the ICC indicted and prosecuted. The only link to the western community is trade, which suffered during the eurozone crisis. is there any link here. Ocampo himself admitted that he had no need of prosecuting any kenyan case but leaders again headed for a collision course