Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Director of Communications Philip Etale has shielded the party leader Raila Odinga from criticism, in regard to his union with President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Jubilee government.
Raila has been questioned over his involvement with Uhuru, this being a change of tact from a man who was initially in the front line in defending Kenyans from the government and its initiatives.
Nonetheless, Etale has defended the opposition leader, saying that Kenyans feeling exposed to the government's bad ideologies have only themselves to blame after repeatedly denying him the chance to lead them as their President.
He noted that others even bashed him for opposing Uhuru's leadership and revealing corruption scandals, wondering why he is again being blamed for being quiet and ditching the 'anti-development' tag they had given him.
"Raila amekuwa akitetea wakenya lakini walimtusi wakamwita bwana wa umaskini na zingine. Wengine walisema hapendi maendeleo, sasa ameungana na serikali, shida iko wapi? (He has been defending the people but they called him names, referring to him as the lord of poverty. Others said he is opposed to development. What is the problem now that he has decided to join the government?)," he posed.
Etale who has declared interest in the Lugari parliamentary seat in the fast approaching 2022 general elections was speaking on Mazungumzo Waziwazi show on Radio Jambo, Wednesday night.
However, both Raila and Uhuru have noted that their union is purely development-based.