Kalonzo seeks to consolidate support in his home turf

By KITAVI MUTUA kmutua@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, April 9 2011 at 22:00

In Summary

• VP asks leaders and supporters to avoid petty political differences and to vote as a bloc

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka on Saturday concluded a two-day tour of the three Ukambani counties of Makueni, Machakos and Kitui with calls for unity among residents.

Mr Musyoka used the tour to consolidate his political home base ahead of the 2012 presidential race.

He urged the Kamba community to rally behind his presidential bid and allow him to concentrate his campaign efforts on other regions.

In a series of rallies and meetings with local leaders, the VP told residents of the region that “petty home grievances should not be allowed to derail my second quest for the top seat”.

The climax of his tour was a dinner he hosted on Friday evening at Kefri Centre for political, religious and business leaders drawn from Kitui County where he gave a one-hour lecture on the prospects of his State House bid.

“The political stakes are so high in the 2012 presidential race. For us to succeed, we can’t afford to have the same political strategies and expect different results,” he told leaders during the address.

“Our voting patterns are very disturbing. We must demonstrate our force; while other communities vote as a bloc, we also avoid splitting our numerical strength,” he said.

He stressed that every community had its own challenges and that the myriad food and water security problems in Ukambani were not an exception.

Mr Musyoka began his tour by opening a major investment conference for the region at Machakos ASK show grounds which brought together local and foreign investors keen to invest in the three counties of Kitui, Machakos and Makueni.

In Makueni, he addressed a rally at Tawa market in Mbooni constituency.

On Saturday, he staged an 80-kilometre road show from Kitui to Mutomo market addressing rallies in Kitui Central, Mutito and Kitui South constituencies before presiding over a fund drive in aid of Mutomo Girls’ Secondary School.

He expressed confidence that by the time the hearings for the confirmation of charges at the ICC begin in September, Kenya would have accomplished major reforms in judicial institutions, thus paving the way for the establishment of a local mechanism to prosecute alleged perpetrators of the post-poll violence.

The VP’s spokesman Kaplich Barsito said Mr Musyoka will be on hand to receive the six suspects who arrive back in the country on Monday morning.

Ps accompanying Mr Musyoka expressed concern that political differences among local leaders were detrimental to his candidacy and presented an image of a quarrelling community while leaders in other regions were busy working together.

Members of Parliament who accompanied the Vice-President on the tour included Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo, Agriculture assistant minister Gideon Ndambuki, Kitui South MP Isaac Muoki, Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka and Mwala MP Daniel Muoki, among other leaders.