Kenyan
JF-Expert Member
- Jun 7, 2012
- 414
- 314
Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader Raila Odinga has insisted that he is in the race for the presidency in 2017, despite the latest opinion polls showing most Kenyans want him to retire.
Raila was reacting to opinion polls carried out by Ipsos that indicated the number of Kenyans keen to see him retire from politics has slightly increased. According to the survey, 37 per cent of those polled want the former Prime Minister to retire from politics completely, compared to 31 per cent who want him to run for presidency in the 2017 elections.
Raila, who was speaking at Kanyamwa in Homa Bay County after the launch of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) electronic membership registration, said he was not ready to quit politics. The CORD leader blamed the high poverty rate in his strongholds on the previous regimes that had continued to sideline Opposition regions.
"I have never been president, when I was the Prime Minister, the fruits I brought are still visible," he said, absolving himself from blame on poverty levels among his supporters.
The same polls showed that more supporters of CORD reported going to bed hungry compared to their counterparts in the ruling Jubilee coalition. On the ongoing Orange Democratic Party (ODM) elections, Raila promised a free and fair exercise.
"In case of grievances, a repeat will be done until credible result is obtained," he said.
The former premier also delved into the ongoing teachers' strike, telling President Uhuru Kenyatta to break his silence over the matter. He challenged the President to ensure his government honours the Supreme Court verdict the same way the Opposition did when the courts declared Uhuru duly elected President.
Source: Standard Media
Raila was reacting to opinion polls carried out by Ipsos that indicated the number of Kenyans keen to see him retire from politics has slightly increased. According to the survey, 37 per cent of those polled want the former Prime Minister to retire from politics completely, compared to 31 per cent who want him to run for presidency in the 2017 elections.
Raila, who was speaking at Kanyamwa in Homa Bay County after the launch of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) electronic membership registration, said he was not ready to quit politics. The CORD leader blamed the high poverty rate in his strongholds on the previous regimes that had continued to sideline Opposition regions.
"I have never been president, when I was the Prime Minister, the fruits I brought are still visible," he said, absolving himself from blame on poverty levels among his supporters.
The same polls showed that more supporters of CORD reported going to bed hungry compared to their counterparts in the ruling Jubilee coalition. On the ongoing Orange Democratic Party (ODM) elections, Raila promised a free and fair exercise.
"In case of grievances, a repeat will be done until credible result is obtained," he said.
The former premier also delved into the ongoing teachers' strike, telling President Uhuru Kenyatta to break his silence over the matter. He challenged the President to ensure his government honours the Supreme Court verdict the same way the Opposition did when the courts declared Uhuru duly elected President.
Source: Standard Media