The family of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has hit back at Deputy President William Ruto for disrespecting their kin.
In a report by People Daily, the former PM's brother, Oburu Odinga, and sister, Ruth Odinga, are seeking an unequivocal apology from DP Ruto after he branded the African Union envoy as "the lord of poverty".
While presiding over a fundraiser in Nyamira County on Monday, the DP accused Raila of opposing development pursuits on the pretense of fighting corruption.
“You were against Eurobond because you said it is corrupt, you were against us building die railway because you said it is corrupt. It is because you are the lord of poverty. You want this country to be poor so that people can continue to support you,” stated Ruto.
Unimpressed by the branding, Oburu flipped the script and slammed the DP for being corrupt.
“If you refer to Raila as the lord of poverty and yet you are the one who is being accused of being corrupt then you are misleading Kenyans. Raila’s record is clean unlike yours which is questionable.
"If you say Raila wants people to be poor so that they can support him, you are wrong,” bashed Oburu.
He was supported by his sister, Ruth, who accused Ruto of being jealous because Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta resolved to work together.
“It is in the public domain that the DP is a jealous man because he sees the president and my brother relating well, so he is worried,” stated Ruth.
The two are not, however, the only people who jumped to Raila's defence following Ruto's remarks.
“It is not proper for a leader like the DP to make statements that will promote hatred amongst Kenyans,” expressed Nyando MP Jared Okello who was seconded by Kisumu Central MP Fred Ouda.
Bringing back the Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino urged President Uhuru Kenyatta not to spare anyone whose name cropped up in the scandal no matter their social ranking.
