Prime Minister Raila Odinga has declared he will not be retiring alongside President Mwai Kibaki and announced he will only leave the political arena after he has tasted leadership pedigree of those to carry on the reform train in the country after him.

Taking the cue from Deputy Prime minister Musalia Mudavadi that Kenyans via the vote should send him packing at the next polls to join President Mwai Kibaki whose term comes to an end, Raila said his presidential bid remains alive adding he would not retire from politics until he was sure his successors do not represent the past.

Addressing a campaign rally in Nakuru four weeks ago Mudavadi asked Kenyans to compel Raila to retire alongside his co-principal Kibaki, by voting against him in the next general election.

Raila however wisely picked on Kakamega as an ideal venue to respond to the challenge and claimed Mudavadi represents the past and should not be entrusted with leadership.

Addressing an ODM campaign rally at the historic Muliro gardens in Kakamega town, Raila claimed Mudavadi's presidential bid was still born claiming he was untrustworthy and a turncoat who should not be entrusted with the leadership of the country.

PM Raila Odinga with ODM Mps during the ODM reloaded rally at the Muliro gardens where he said he will not quit politics. [PHOTO|John Kabaka|West Fm]

He said Kenyans should be wary of hyenas and turncoats within their midst adding his experience with his former deputy at the ODM party confirmed that an offspring of a snake never changes.

He observed, “Snakes have a tendency to moult their skin and become younger and specific times but that did not mean change of identity as snakes,” adding, “you saw that this is true when Mudavadi left.”

The PM said ODM would use the experience of the past to mould a better future for the country.

He said Kenya was stuck in the league of the poor nations of the world because of leaders had refused to embrace change and reforms.

“We know ourselves, where we came from, where we are and where we are going. We started as young turks of the (1990s) fought for multi-party and recently the new Constitution adding he would not leave the process of implementing it to people who do not believe in it.

He said the fruits from the new Constitution would start to ripen after the next general election but only when Kenyans elect leaders who believe in it.

About twenty Mps drawn from Nyanza, Rift valley, North Eastern, Nairobi and Western attended the public rally that was snubbed by the local Mps. Butere MP Wyclife Oparanya and Khwisero's Evans Akula were the only Mps from Kakamega County who attended the rally. 

Others in attendance were Ababu Namwamba, Alfred Odhiambo, Paul Otuoma (Busia County), Alfred Khang'ati (Bungoma County) and Wilbur Otichilo (Vihiga county). The rest were Shakil Shabir, Ayiecho Olweny, Elzabeth Ongoro, James Orengo, Henry Kosgey, Fred Outa, Otieno Kajwang, Farah Maalim, Hassan Joho, Manson Nyamweya, Magerer Lang'at, Rachael Shebesh and John Mbadi.

Speeches from the Mps at the rally were cut short by an afternoon down pour that began shortly after the PM addressed the crowd. The PM's wife mama Ida Odinga pleaded with the public to trust Raila. She said Kenyans had every reason to believe her on Raila's credential.

“I'm one of the 25 most powerful women in the world and you should believe in what I say. The PM is consistent and trustworthy, and means well for this country. Otherwise if that was not the case I would have moved on with my life during the ten years he spent in detention,” She said,

She urged youth to keep the peace during the campaign period by shunning politicians keen to use them to cause mayhem. She urged them to understand that political rivalry and campaigns was war time.