Fresh Twist as Raila Wades into ‘Mambo ni Matatu’ Fiasco
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga waded into the’mambo ni matatu’ scandal on Saturday, seizing the opportunity to send Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli to deliver a message to President William Ruto over the latter’s remarks that have been widely interpreted as a threat to billionaire industrialist Jaswant Rai.
On Saturday, September 2, while sharing the same podium with the unionist in Vihiga County, Raila expressed concern over Ruto’s remarks, describing them as irresponsible and unpresidential.
President William Ruto has been heavily criticized for his remarks warning Rai, who has vast interests in the sugar industry, to stop frustrating reforms or face three consequences: imprisonment, deportation, or entry into paradise.
Raila, while jokingly referencing Atwoli’s newfound affinity with Ruto, requested that the COTU director advise Ruto to avoid making similar remarks in the future.
“If someone powerful gives a person three options, is that good leadership? We do not want to witness such threats. That is careless talk.
“Atwoli tell your friend to cease. We do not want such talk. We want to move on in peace, love, and unity,” he stated.
The leader of the ODM urged Kenyans to be vigilant and warned against underestimating the significance of Ruto’s statements.
The former prime minister emphasized the need for political leaders to be restrained by appropriate checks and balances to prevent Kenya from plunging off the cliff like Haiti.
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Before inviting Raila to address the audience, Atwoli endorsed Ruto’s strong posture against corruption and lamented that corruption has impeded service delivery to Kenyans.
The veteran unionist stated that he could not support those accused of corruption, which he deemed to be the country’s primary issue.
“Ruto is saying what Kenyans want to hear. There are so many people engaged in graft and they need such a person to deal with them and we will push him to deal with them. This country is bigger than all of us,” the COTU boss asserted.
During his tour of Western Kenya last week, Ruto warned Rai against interfering with Mumias Sugar Company operations. The President ordered the industrialist to retract the lawsuits he had filed against the sugar mill.
“Kesi watoe and hao wenyewe watoke. Mnanielewa ? Nimewambia mabo ni matatu. Wakitaka kuniletea kisirani labda wahame Kenya, ama nitawaweka jela ama wasafiri waende mbiguni.”
“Let them withdraw all those court cases. I have given them three options. If they frustrate me; either leave Kenya, end up in jail, or go to heaven,” Ruto issued the threat.
Rai and other petitioners withdrew their cases in response to the threat, even as events surrounding the struggling sugar miller continued to unfold.
Fresh Twist as Raila Wades into ‘Mambo ni Matatu’ Fiasco