This archive report was first published on 23 December 2019.
On 22 December 2019, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua revealed that Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party chief Raila Odinga has pledged to support his presidential ambitions in the 2022 elections.
Mutua made the claim during an interview on K24 TV's Punchline show, stating that he had informed Odinga of his intention to run for the presidency and that the former premier was positive in his response.
‘I’ve already explained that to Raila Odinga…when I went to see him in his Upper Hill office, I told him I’m running for president and it’s time to hand over the baton and he understands that,’ Mutua said.
He added that Odinga had encouraged him to sell his policies to the public and that they had agreed to support each other’s dreams.
‘We’ve said we’ll support each other’s dreams. He will support my dream,’ Mutua stated.
During the interview, Mutua also spoke about his perceived rivalry with Wiper Democratic Movement party boss Kalonzo Musyoka, whom he commended for a good job but intimated that he should now hand over the reins of the Ukambani region to another leader.
‘What we want to say is that Kalonzo is a very respectful man, he’s a man I hold in high ideal and he should be respected. As a leader of our people, he’s done some things but he could have done more but also where he’s reached I think he has served us well, its time for somebody else to continue the job,’ he stated.
He reiterated his earlier claims that Deputy President William Ruto, National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale and his counterpart in the Senate Kipchumba Murkomen threatened him with unspecified consequences during different instances at State House.
