[NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga. He will be facing off with President Uhuru Kenyatta during the forthcoming general elections. Courtesy: The Star]
Opposition coalition NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga has dismissed Jubilee Party's call to have him arrested over alleged incitement remarks.
President Uhuru Kenyatta led a host of other Jubilee leaders in condemning the former Prime Minister, claiming that he had made inflammatory remarks that could spark violence in the country.
“Friday, he was talking about “wenye inchi and wenye wanafaa kurudi kwao” (those who own the land and those who should return to where they came from) and that is the same language he used to create conflict the last time,” said the President.
But in a quick rejoinder, Mr Odinga accused the Head of State of painting him in bad light, with an ill motive of discrediting his candidature.
He further accused President Kenyatta of engaging in politics of propaganda and scaremongering, adding that he was a nationalist.
“In the latest incident, the President has, out of the blues, accused me of asking communities to return to their ancestral lands. I have not made such utterances. The diversity of my support base alone militate against me making such utterances. The President’s remarks are therefore far-fetched and smacks of desperation,” he noted.
“Such gasps of outrage rather hollow and unfortunate particularly coming from the President whose office is supposed to embody unity and certainty in the nation,” he added.