The Political rivalry pitting Deputy President William Ruto and Opposition Chief Raila Odinga is one which seem to be getting uglier as the days go back and even the so much hyped handshake seem to have done little to reduce the levels of animosity between these two.
Well, we all know their bone of contention, it is the Presidency. Ruto has declared that he will be on the ballot come 2022 while Raila Odinga is seen as a potential candidate by many despite not declaring whether he will be running for Presidency or not.
Ruto and Raila have again crossed each other’s paths and this time a car has brought them to the battle field.
We all remember the brand new car Ruto gifted Kisumu Catholic Archbishop Philip Anyolo, right?
Well after it emerged that the Man of Cloth had rejected the gift, Raila claimed that it took the Pope’s intervention for the Car to be returned since it was said to have been acquired by proceeds of corruption.
Ruto did not take this lightly and on Sunday launched a number of attacks on Raila Odinga who he even called a Magician who believes in Evil Spirits.
“…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,” Ruto said.
An official who asked not to be named said that the vehicle was driven to Ukweli pastoral centre where it has been packed since it was donated.
He said the bishop has never used the vehicle as Christians bought for him a Toyota V8 valued at Sh5million.
“There has been a complaint from church members that they should not accept a gift whose source is unclear. This has seen a lot of heat in the church,” he said.
Speaking at St Martin’s Kitwii Catholic Church grounds in Kangundo, Machakos County during the Sunday service, Ruto assured churches that nothing would stop leaders from taking part in the development of the scriptures.
He said those who don’t believe in God would not stop others from participating in the development of churches so as to facilitate the spread of the Gospel to the masses.
“Those who believe in witchcraft, the magicians and those who worship evil spirits are offended and do not like what we are doing in churches. We are telling them we are not going to stop participating in the development of churches,” Ruto said.
Odinga is yet to respond to William Ruto’s latest attacks but his followers have not taken them lying down flat with many of them launching their own series of attacks directed towards Ruto.
I guess it is just a matter of time before Raila responds to Ruto.
With all these latest happenings, the Handshake is suddenly loosing it’s meaning.