Retired president Uhuru Kenyatta got a warm reception in Kisumu as he held his first rally in the lakeside city post his presidency.
Uhuru and Raila Odinga met in Gem, Siaya county during the burial of Prof George Magoha and later drove about 45 km to Kisumu holding stopovers to speak to residents in Luanda and other centres.
In Kisumu, Raila and Uhuru held a rally at the newly launched Uhuru market where the former president spoke about development projects he initiated in the lakeside city before he retired as the head of state and government.
“Wakati tumemaliza (matanga) mi nkaambia Baba wacha nirudi kule mi nimetoka. Akaniambia siwezi kurudi hivyo hivyo lazima nikuje nisalamie watu na wananchi wa Kisumu na pia nipate nafasi ya kuona zile kazi mbali mbali tulianza pamoja.
“Soko kama hii si tulianza pamoja na Baba? Kule port ya Kisumu si tulianza pamja na Baba? Si reli tulilete mbaka hapa Kisumu? Si tulienda kujenga stadium hapa Kisumu? Si tulianza mpango wa nyumba ya bei ya chini hapa Kisumu? Kweli ama si kweli? Vile Orengo amesema kule kanisani wakati tulikua huko – walio na macho waone, walio na maskio waskie wasipotaka haki haiwezi isha,” Uhuru said.
The former president further stressed that he was retired but not tired, adding that he was still firmly in Azimio la Umoja One Kenya alliance and that Raila was his party leader.
“Mimi munajua sasa nimestaafu si ni kweli? Mimi nimestaafu nko retired but I am not tired. Tunaelewana? I am retired but not? Ama ni namna gani? Na sasa mimi munajua ya kwamba party leader ni nani? (Crowd shouts ‘Raila Amolo Odinga’. Uhuru asked the crowd thrice who his party leader is) Namna hio (he acknowldeged the crowd),” Uhuru said.
“Kwa sababu hata kama hatuko siasa active bado tuko kwa chama ile tulikua naye na bado tunaendelea kuunga hio chama mkono na ni Azimio, si ni kweli? Nyinyi sijui labda mumebadilika? Mumebadilika? Ni wangapi hawajabadilika? Ni wangapi wako na msimamo? Ata mimi Uhuru ni mtu ya msimamo. Si ni hivyo?” He added.
The former president insisted that the government must deliver its promises to all Kenyans, noting that all citizens have the right to development projects.
“Na lazima haki itengeke na itendeke kwa wote kwa sababu maendeleo ni ya kila Mkenya. Na sisi haja yetu ni nchi yetu iwe na umoja, iwe na amani na zile ahadi na kazi za serikali ziwezekutendewa Wakenya wote,” Uhuru said.
Uhuru further said that he will not be actively involved in politics but he will be visiting churches and schools to hold harambees as he stands firmly behind his party leader Raila.
“Sasa kwa sababu nimeseme mimi nimestaafu mutakua munanialika hapa kula samaki? Tuje tutembee pamoja tuwetunafanya harambee ya kanisa? Tunafanya harambee ya shule? Mimi nafwata mzee huko naskia vile anendelea mimi nasimama nyuma yake sasa yeye ndo ako mbele ama ni namna gani? Si ni hivyo? Tutatembea pamoja?” Uhuru told Kisumu residents.
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