I'm Ready for Lifestyle Audit, Raila Declares

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has declared he is ready to have a lifestyle audit conducted on him in line with President Kenyatta's efforts in fighting corruption.

Odinga, who spoke at the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party retreat in Mombasa on Monday, said he is fully in support of the wealth audit on all public servants.

“We changed tact and assured the government that we are together in the war on corruption. We are no longer whistle blowers; we are one with the government in executing corruption,” said Raila.

He added: “We remain in the position that what is good for Kenya is good for ODM. The war on corruption is good for Kenya and we are in it fully, lifestyle audit on leaders is good for Kenya and personally I am ready for it.”

However, Odinga called on the government to hire an independent international agency to oversee the exercise.

On his part, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, who is also the party deputy leader, said ODM will front a presidential candidate in the 2022 elections.

“After this deliberation, we will come up with a strong resolution on how to move forward as a party. By the time we gear up for the next election we will be ready to take leadership of the country and form government as ODM,” Joho said.

“ODM stays strong and ODM will be alive in 2022 and will certainly have a candidate running for president in 2022.”

Odinga termed the famous March 9th handshake between him and President Kenyatta a success, noting that it has lowered tensions in the country.

“There was tension all over the country after the August 2017 elections and subsequent repeat elections. It was against this background that dialogue took place. These talks produced a memorandum of understanding as the basis of our relationship going forward,” said Odinga.

“The country and politics have changed since the 7th of March. Those refusing to embrace the change brought forth by the handshake are the ones creating confusion.”