'I will protect Matiang'i, he will be in my government,' Raila says as he tells off critics

Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party presidential candidate Raila Odinga has defended Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i over the recurrent attacks from the Kenya Kwanza coalition allied leaders.

Speaking during a campaign tour in Nyamira on Friday, Odinga praised Matiang’i as a great leader saying he would defend him from any political attacks.

The former premier told the residents that the CS was being criticised for his boldness in serving the country. Odinga assured the Kisii community, where Matiang’i hails from, that he would absorb him into his government if he ascends to power in the forthcoming polls.

“Fred Matiang'i we have come a long way and he has done a good job. We have worked with him for a long time but he is now being opposed by those other people whom you know… They are really attacking him but he is under Baba’s shield," Odinga said.

“I will protect him. Here on the ground, I can see you (voters) are standing strong with Matiang’i… and up there I will be standing with him. We will continue working with him after the 9th of August." 

The former premier similarly accused his opponents of ganging up against Mataing’i since he was opposed to their alleged vices.

“He is a man who knows how to do his work and that is why the criminals are fighting him; wale wakora wanampiga kwa sababu ya ile kazi nzuri ambayo anaifanya,” Odinga remarked. 

In regard to the ongoing conflict in the Kisii and Migori counties over party politics affiliated with Azimio, Odinga urged the voters to make their choice by voting for the most popular leaders within Azimio.

He underscored that the affiliate parties held a right to field any candidate since victory for any would mean victory for Azimio.

“I have seen a lot of candidates in the region from Wiper, UPA, ODM KANU…all these candidates are under Azimio,” he said. “Hao wote ni watoto wa mama mmoja wanang’ang’ania matiti lakini baba ni mmoja.”

This follows the dispute between Governor aspirants Simba Arati (ODM), former cabinet minister Chris Obure (Jubilee) and Senator Sam Ongeri (Democratic Action Party-Kenya) who are all under the Azimio coalition and are seeking to succeed outgoing Governor James Ongwae.