In a newspaper interview published on Sunday 29 September, the Daily Nation has reported that ex-Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama holds the opinion that Raila and Kalonzo should retire from active politics.
The paper also reports the government revoked mining licences of Muthama and that he was struggling to stay financially afloat. However, Muthama maintains that his licences are intact and that his business is doing well.
“It would be wrong for me to ask the former prime minister and vice president to retire but there comes a time when one should ask, am I the best person to lead? Is there someone better?” Muthama is quoted by the publication.
Kenyans.co.ke contacted Muthama and the ex-senator rubbished the report stating that the story was false and that there are people who want to malign his name.
“I am the only clean politician in this country and people want to ruin my reputation. I did not say that Raila and Kalonzo should retire from politics. That is false and I don’t know where the Daily Nation got that story. My mining business is doing well and all my licences are intact,” Muthama told this writer in a phone call.
The story goes ahead and reports that Muthama is unhappy with the handshake. That the ODM leader should not have agreed to ‘a handshake beyond the elbow’ with President Kenyatta.
According to the story, Muthama criticises Raila for entering into a deal that has seen the country lose a vibrant opposition.
“We were supposed to accept Uhuru as president but still put him in check. Now everything the government wants it passes,” Muthama is reported to have stated.
On the calls for a referendum in a bid to create the posts of the prime minister and assistant prime minister, the interview reports that Muthama is against the move.
Muthama is said to hold the opinion that the creation of more political seats will divide the nation further since the additional posts will go to politicians from the biggest tribes in Kenya and fail to cure the plagues of exclusion.
