Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has finally responded to a claim by Deputy President William Ruto that he played a pivotal role in the career of the political enigma.
In a sit-down with Citizen TV's Sam Gituku on Thursday, July 8, the former premier refuted the DP's claims noting that he never received a penny from Ruto.
He further disclosed that during their union, the DP was only working to help himself.
"Who is William Ruto to be worried about? I mean, Raila Odinga will never do a thing like that. To fight William Ruto? Why?
"Who is William Ruto to be fought? No one can say that they have helped me. That he helped Nyayo. He Helped Uhuru and me. Who is he helping people? He got his own side," stated Raila.
"He never gave me any money. He helped himself. We were a team and each person was a player. You cannot say he played better than Musalia or Balala," he added.
In an address at the Presbyterian Church of East Africa in Umoja on Sunday, July 4, Ruto had claimed that he was the force behind the past victories of Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He claimed that he helped Raila clinch the Prime Minister's position in the coalition government with former President Mwai Kibaki.
“They accuse me of helping churches, boda boda riders and mama mboga, but they don’t tell you I once helped them until they got big positions in government,” stated Ruto.
In 2007, Ruto and Raila had joined forces as the latter campaigned for the presidency. After losing at the seat, Raila and Kibaki held talks spearheaded by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan and a Grand Coalition Government was formed.
The DP further accused Raila of wrecking the government despite him having been the force that helped Uhuru clinch the seat twice.
Ruto has already expressed interest to unseat Uhuru but Raila is yet to declare his intention to run. He noted that he is open to supporting another candidate.
