I Don't Need President Uhuru's Support to Defeat You, Raila Tells Ruto

Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition party presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga has exuded confidence that he will trounce his main competitor Deputy President William Ruto of the UDA party by a large margin.

Odinga, who is giving his fifth try at the presidency, reiterated that he does not need President Kenyatta’s support to defeat Ruto in the August 9th presidential contest.

“I will give him a run for his money… I am beating him hands-down come next month,” Odinga said while campaigning in Homa Bay County on Sunday.

Odinga was responding to Ruto, who urged President Kenyatta to keep off his succession politics and allow him to face off with the ODM party leader in the upcoming elections.

“When you needed a friend to stand with you, I stood with you. Raila never stood with you, Martha Karua never stood with you, I am not asking for you to support me, I am asking you to give me space so that I can deal with Raila,” Ruto told Uhuru during a campaign rally in Tharaka Nithi County on Saturday.

He added: “I am asking my brother Uhuru Kenyatta, mimi sishindani na wewe my friend, mimi nashindanda na Raila, wewe simama kando. I want Uhuru Kenyatta to step aside, huyo Raila nitammalizia asubuhi na mapema.”

Kenyatta whose second and final term ends after the August 9th general elections has endorsed Odinga, 77, as his preferred successor following their March 9th, 2018 handshake.