Sunday, September 5, 2010

Voters card is your weapon, Raila tells Kenyans

By Standard On Sunday Team

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has urged Kenyans to acquire voters’ cards ahead of the 2012 General Election, as the new Constitution takes effect.

Mr Raila said without the voters’ cards, Kenyans would not participate in expanding democracy and change for growth.

Raila hailed Kenyans for making a bold decision and overhauling an archaic constitution largely blamed for years of oppression.

"I thank Kenyans for voting resoundingly ‘Yes’ in the August 4 referendum. But that is not enough. Bigger changes are in the offing," the PM said.


Prime Minister Raila Odinga pays his last respects to Herman Odhiambo Omamba who was buried at Kanyamkago in Uriri constituency Saturday. Omamba was former area MP. [PMPS/STANDARD].

Raila said the new Constitution signaled positive development and told Kenyans to brace for better times ahead.

"We have just started. But the envisaged future development cannot be realised without immense support of Kenyans. We need your support," said the PM in Uriri during the burial of former area MP Odhiambo Omamba.

Many Frustrations

Speaking at the same function, Wildlife Assistant Minister Josphat Nanok declared Raila was fit for president.

Mr Nanok said Raila had faced many frustrations as he battled for better governance over the years. The frustrations, he said, ranged from impunity, mismanagement of the country, and autocratic leadership.

Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang’ said if the recent opinion polls were anything to go by then all eyes were on Raila.

Kajwang’ asked Kenyans to support the PM after President Kibaki retires from offices in 2012.

Earlier, Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo sparked debate on population census saying the numbers disadvantaged the Luo.

Mr Ogindo said recent census results that put the community at four million underscored the need for them to embark on pro-active reproduction.

But Raila said the numbers were not a threat.

"No Kenyan community can secure the country’s top leadership without working with others," he said.

The PM rooted for unity and peace among all Kenyans in the new dawn, irrespective of their political and ethnic affiliations.

Raila said a bloated population is not the benchmark for prosperity.

High Mortality

"A country’s prosperity is measured by the quality of life of its people and not the numbers," he told mourners in Uriri during the burial of former area MP Odhiambo Omamba.

Public Service minister Dalmas Otieno deplored high mortality rate in Nyanza.

Mr Otieno said economic growth should be in tandem with population numbers.

Speaking at another function, Raila said the leadership exhibited by President Kibaki during the campaign for the new Constitution would continue to ensure smooth implementation of the new laws.

Speaking in Rarieda during the burial of Patrice Odede, Raila said Kenyans had made tremendous changes.

Raila said Parliament has an arduous duty of enacting legislation that will provide structures of the new Constitution.

He said the provinces were no more and the counties were the new centres of influence.

 

Reports by Kepher Otieno, Nick Oluoch, Anderson Ojwang’ and George Olwenya

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