The war of words between Deputy President William Ruto and ODM Luminary Raila Odinga seem to be far from over.
Speaking in Siaya at a burial ceremony for the late senior Chief Daudi Olak. Raila said that Pope Francis ordered Kisumu Archbishop Philip Anyolo to return the Ksh. 4 million car gift, since it was bought using ‘proceeds of corruption’.
Ruto furiously responded,
‘The master of deceit as always is spewing desperate lies. The car gift was bought by Christian leaders including UK [Uhuru Kenyatta] and myself at the request of the chair of Catholic mps. Understandably Empowering the church offends magicians and the evil spirits they worship. Shetani ashindwe!,’ he tweeted.
On Saturday, media reports stated that Archbishop Anyolo donated the vehicle to an institution which ‘would benefit from it more than he would’.
The war of words between the two was rekindled earlier last week when it emerged that Ksh. 21 billion meant for construction of Kimwarer and Arror multipurpose dams in Elgeyo Marakwet County was misappropriated.
Ruto dismissed the allegations calling it a ‘flat lie’, stating that only ‘Ksh. 7 billion is in question’.
The ODM leader reprimanded him (Ruto) for casually talking about the missing Ksh. 7 billion.
“The KSh 7 billion they are saying is not pocket change. Hiyo sio pesa ya kununua maandazi. (This is not money to buy snacks). Then those who steal such come out saying they are entrepreneurs and farmers. They don’t fit in any particular category like bats,” the former prime minister said.
The two have not had a cosy relationship since Ruto went his way in 2012 to join a fellow ICC court inductee, Uhuru Kenyatta, forming a coalition that eventually won the elections.
Their differences seem to have been exacerbated by the ‘handshake’ and building bridges initiative (BBI) that brings the government and opposition together for a united Kenya.
As we enter a new week, it seems like the fight for relevancy going into 2022 general elections is only beginning.
