Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition leader Raila Odinga has hit out at President William Ruto for standing with the Jewish State of Israel which he said is violating rights of women and children in the Hamas-Israel war.

Raila asked the president to stand with the oppressed and not be led into condemning fellow ‘brothers and sisters’. The former premier  made the remarks at Mkomani showgrounds in Mombasa during the Luo Cultural extravaganza.

“Children are being bombed by the Israeli government, I want to advise (prime Minister of Israel) Benjamin Netanyahu to stop killing children, we must condemn in the strongest terms possible the brutality women and children are being subjected to, it’s inhuman, it’s punitive and we condemn it,” said the former premier.

Unity calls

“We must condemn in the strongest terms possible the brutality in which the innocent children and women of Palestine are being subjected to by the regime of Netanyahu.”

“It is inhuman, it is primitive, it is brutal, and we condemn it,” he  said.

Raila also has asked coastal leaders to foster unity among communities living in the coastal region.

He said unity for purpose is significant for one to realise his/her dreams noting that since independence, the coastal community has coexisted and thus no amount of political differences should divide them.

“There has been good coexistence between the people of the coast and up country for generations, many tribes live in Mombasa and no one should divide them,” said Raila.

Mombasa leaders present vowed to work together and support ODM party to ensure the party remains firm.

Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir affirmed that Mombasa will remain united.

“Mombasa is an ODM zone, and it will remain so, we will remain unshaken,” said Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba.

Likoni MP Mishi Mboko asked Raila to remain firm in calling out the government over the rising cost of living. She said the government has done little in addressing the challenge.