Why Kenyans Should Not Fear Raila's Mass Action- Ruto Ally

Kimilili Member of Parliament (MP) Didmus Barasa now believes that Kenyans should not be swayed by the tension across the country after Azimio la Umoja leader, Raila Odinga, declared the start of countrywide mass action on Thursday, March 9.

Speaking during an interview with Esther Nyonje, Barasa praised Kenyans' confidence in President William Ruto's government, particularly lauding the Head of State for boldly taking on Raila.

The lawmaker compared Ruto to his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, whom he termed as one who would go toe to toe with the former Prime Minister under the influence, even though the two shared a handshake in 2018.

Esther Nyonje meeting Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa on Thursday, March 9, 2023. /FACEBOOK.ESTHER NYONJE

Barasa further warned Raila against engaging in any form of lawlessness during the mass action, noting that the law will not hesitate in cracking down on him.

"There is no tension across the country. The Kenyan people have full confidence in the stewardship of William Ruto and they know what inspires confidence in them is the fact that they understand that William Ruto is not a coward like Uhuru Kenyatta. He doesn't need to smoke or drink anything to gain the courage to face Raila Odinga.

"If Raila will engage in lawlessness or criminal activities, he will face the full wrath of the law the same way a Mama Mboga, a woman or a man from a rural place faces the wrath of the law in Kenya if he sells illicit brew," he stated.

Barasa further affirmed that Raila was not a special Kenyan and was vulnerable to punishment just like any other citizen caught engaging in criminal activities.

"The same way the government of Kenya cracks down on those who are involved in selling third-generation liquor including illicit brew is the same manner that the government of Kenya will track down and arrest Raila Odinga if he will engage in criminal activities," he went on.

He reiterated that Raila had his opportunity to prove his numerous claims that the election was rigged against him at the Supreme Court of Kenya on September 5, 2022, and that he still had a chance to do so in a court of law, even though he urged him to accept that he lost in the August 9, 2022, general elections.

"If Raila Odinga felt that his victory was snatched, there is the law that provides the roadmap and channels on how he can vent his anger. He went to court, the court made its decision...the man should just accept that he lost the elections and live to fight another day," he went on.

In terms of the Azimio coalition and pressure from Kenyans on the government to reduce the cost of living, Barasa revealed that the current regime was yet to implement its own budget and that the current government was still operating with the budget from the previous government.

While calling upon Kenyans to give the Kenya Kwanza government time, Barasa noted that plans were underway after the Budget is presented for the government to introduce a Finance Bill that will determine how much the government will spend on various projects and interventions regarding the cost of living.

"Our current regime, we have not had our own budget. The budget which we are implementing is the one that was drafted and conceptualised by the previous regime. As Parliament, we have approved Budget Policy Statements, a precursor to the main Budget.

"I want to ask Kenyans to give President Ruto time, he will present his budget in the next few months. In the month of June, the Minister for Finance will give a budget speech, after it is read in the National Assembly, the government will introduce a Finance Bill which will show actually how much money the government will be able to spend or rather invest in various projects and interventions and also suggest the ways on how they will get that money...something to do with taxation and how much money Kenyans will be paying in the name of taxes," he said.

Barasa expressed confidence that the pre-election campaign promises made by President Ruto would begin to manifest and be visible from June 2023 after the first budget in the Kenya Kwanza government is read.