Monday, September 13, 2010

Near-clash as parties search for votes

By OLIVER MUSEMBI newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, September 12 2010 at 22:00
In Summary

Uhuru and Karua in same area to drum up support for their respective candidates

Supporters of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Gichugu MP Martha Karua nearly clashed on Sunday when they met at the same venue in Ruiru Town as the campaign for the Juja by-election gathered momentum.

The leaders of two parties allied to PNU took part in drumming up support for their respective candidates in the Juja parliamentary race. The poll is scheduled to take place on September 20.

The scene outside the Ruiru bus stage looked like a preview of the battle of supremacy ahead of the two leaders, who harbour presidential ambitions.

Mr Kenyatta, accompanied by MPs Lewis Nguyai and Kabando wa Kabando, was campaigning for Mr George Thuo of PNU, while Ms Karua was hunting for votes for Mr William Kabogo of Narc Kenya.

The Finance minister had earlier addressed a harambee meeting at the Gitothua Catholic Church, where he appealed to voters to reelect Mr Thuo to Parliament so that he could complete his projects.

He said claims that the Juja poll was rigged had contributed to the post-election violence and urged the electorate to re-elect Mr Thuo to prove that he was elected fairly.

“You should not forget that as a result of the reckless claim, our people were killed and others uprooted from their homes in the chaos that erupted,” he said.

Mr Kenyatta also asked the people of Central Kenya to unite and speak with one voice ahead of the 2012 elections.

Ms Karua, who was with Mr Kabogo, former Naivasha MP Jane Kihara and a number of councillors from Thika and Ruiru criticised the use of GK vehicles in the campaign, terming it a “plunder of public resources”.

The Narc party leader reiterated that she will be in the 2012 presidential race and pleaded with Juja voters to elect Mr Kabogo as a way of strengthening her party.

She praised the former MP, saying he was development oriented leader and criticised his predecessor for doing nothing about the current state of roads in the constituency.

“The by-election is about choosing a good leader. What did the former MP do about the terrible roads during his stint in Parliament?” asked the Gichugu lawmaker.

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