Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah has questioned the move by the opposition leader
Raila Odinga to support the controversial Adani deal.
Wajackoyah is now calling
on Raila to come clean and explain his position to Kenyans.
“It is only Raila who knows that and it is only him who can
answer because since he joined the broad-based government, we have not been in a
position to talk on national issues,” Wajackoyah said.
Speaking on K24 on Tuesday, Wajackoyah expressed concern over Raila’s apparent
shift in stance regarding the Adani Group, which has been the subject of public
debate.
“So if he has decided that Adani now is a god, well, let him
come on television and explain to Kenyans why he is now agitating for the Adani
deal. What is in that deal that has attracted Raila?” he posed.
Despite acknowledging his personal relationship with the
former Prime Minister, Wajackoyah maintained a firm stance on the matter.
“Raila is my friend, but when it comes to national issues, I
may not agree with him on that, I’m sorry,” he said.
This is after Raila expressed his regret over the cancellation of Adani deal that was meant to
expand and manage the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Speaking on the second day of the National Executive Retreat
in Karen, Nairobi on June 20, Raila said should the deal have proceeded,
it would have elevated Nairobi into a regional economic hub.
“I was very disappointed when we were not able to move on
with the airport contract, that was very unfortunate,” he said.
Raila narrated that the first expansion contract for JKIA
was awarded while he served as Prime Minister, but was later cancelled after
the grand coalition government left office.
He said the same company was again awarded the contract and
then terminated it following disagreements.
The ODM leader who had joined senior state officials for the
retreat, said the Adani deal was politicised, leading to its cancellation.
He cautioned that if nothing is done, JKIA will remain
dormant while other countries that are expanding will grow into regional hubs.
In a subtle message to the opposition and which appeared to
defend his position to form the broad-based government, Raila stressed that
Kenya must always come before political differences, ambitions, or
frustrations.
“I believe strongly that no matter our disagreements, our
visions and disappointments, we have a country first,” he said.
While acknowledging the political differences that he noted
define Kenya’s democratic space, Raila cautioned against allowing such
divisions to undermine the nation’s foundation.
“We may hold strong decisions as we wish, but
without a country to implement the ideas, they will remain mere wishes and
deferred dreams.”