Raila doesn't have Northeastern region interests at heart— Duale

Former National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale on Sunday criticised ODM leader Raila Odinga’s presidential bid saying he doesn’t have the interest of northeastern region at heart.

Speaking to the press after attending a wedding, the Garissa Township MP said Raila has time and again, through his utterances, shown how he does not care for the region.

Two weeks ago while addressing residents of Kigumo in Murang'a county,  Raila gave a comparison where a county with less population received more in allocation compared to one with more people.

His statement raised protests from Northeastern leaders who claimed Raila has always been against the devolution of resources to Northeastern counties.

Raila however, later defended himself saying he did not compare the two counties on the basis of the one man, one shilling, one vote revenue allocation model.

However according to Duale, Raila who is set to visit Garissa after his Coast visit, should stop the double speak, adding that the damage has already been done.

“I really want to talk to the former prime minister, you keep on repeating about the 800,000 people in Mandera and the 2 million people in Kiambu. That is not the Raila Odinga we knew. It is sad that he is talking about the unity of Kenyans and at the same time wants to divide people in his quest to get power on denying certain regions their resource,” he said.

Duale said devolution was brought in the country based on the concept of marginalisation noting that the main reason was to address the issue of resources being controlled from the centre.

“For many years resource were controlled from the centre and those who were in power used those positions to develop their areas. So the spirit and the letter of devolution was to make sure that there is equity and equality in the management of the affairs of the state. Raila wants to take Kenya back to the pre-2010 constitution. We will not allow that to happen,” he said.

On issue of forming coalitions and looking for new partners, Duale said the people of northern Kenya already have a partner in the deputy president.

“The die is cast, the 2022 contest is between those who want to form coalition of political tribal leaders so they can share positions in government. Then there are those of us who want to form coalitions of the people of Kenya and decide for the first time that Kenya belongs to everybody,” Duale said.

“What we are saying is giving a position to Duale is not important, what is important to the pastoral community and the people of northern Kenya is how do you negotiate with the next government issues of concern affecting our people.”

-Edited by SKanyara