By-election a rehearsal for 2012: Mudavadi

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi (above) told voters in Ikolomani that their former MP, Dr Boni Khalwale, had let them down in the last eight years. Photo/FILE

Posted  Sunday, May 15 2011 at 21:32

ODM is using the Ikolomani by-election as rehearsal for its 2012 presidential campaigns, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi said on Sunday.

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Mr Mudavadi said a win for the party’s candidate in the by-election would be a strong indication of ODM’s popularity in western Kenya.

The Local Government minister, who was accompanied by Cabinet colleagues James Orengo, Paul Otuoma and Wycliffe Oparanya, told voters in Ikolomani that their former MP, Dr Boni Khalwale, had let them down in the last eight years.

Assistant minister Alfred Khangati and MPs Wilbur Otichillo (Emuhaya), Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i), Millie Odhiambo (nominated), Justus Kizito (Shinyalu) and Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga) were also in the team to campaign for ODM candidate Bernard Shinali.

“The by-election in Ikolomani is a practice match for ODM because it will define how 2012 will go,” Mr Orengo said.

Mr Mudavadi urged voters not to vote for Dr Khalwale as his election in 2007 had been nullified by the High Court due to irregularities. (READ: Kenya MP loses seat)

“One cannot give back his stolen cow to a person who has been caught driving it away from the homestead. That would be a mistake,” said the the DPM, who is the Sabatia MP.

The ODM campaign team addressed campaign meetings at Savane, Shiveye, Kimingini and Ivonda Primary School.

Mr Oparanya said Ikolomani constituency had received an allocation of Sh473 million for the CDF and the constituency road funds since 2004 to date but there had been little impact on the ground due to poor implementation of projects.

He cited poor infrastructure projects in the constituency, which he said had not been completed.