Candidate heckled in Ikolomani

ISAAC WALE | NATION New Ford Kenya’s candidate in the Ikolomani by-election Boni Khalwale (in cap) is blocked from attending Mass at Shiseso Catholic Church on May 08, 2011. Prime Minister Raila Odinga was at the church service.

By BENSON AMADALA newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com and Benjamin muindi bmuindi@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Sunday, May 8 2011 at 22:00

In Summary

• Raila led campaigns for ODM man in Western Kenya as Beth Mugo led PNU cause in Kamukunji

Prime Minister Raila Odinga addressed several rallies in Ikolomani on Sunday after hitting the campaign trail for Mr Bernard Shinali, the ODM candidate.

At one stop, the ODM team ran into a group of hostile youths, who heckled Mr Shinali, forcing Mr Odinga and the campaign team to leave the venue.

The crowd at Malinya, the home of Dr Boni Khalwale, the New Ford Kenya candidate, had been calm during speeches by Mr Odinga and deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi.

But when Mr Shinali was invited to speak, a group of youths chanting slogans in support of Dr Khalwale disrupted the meeting.

Earlier, Dr Khalwale went to Shiseso Catholic Church to join Mr Odinga and his team for Sunday Mass, but was turned away by police officers.

The Ikolomani seat fell vacant after a court nullified the election of Dr Khalwale in 2007.

Three candidates, Dr Khalwale, Mr Shinali and Dr Collins Matemba are vying for the seat in a by-election set for May 23.

The issue of the Sigalagala-Butere-Sidindi road surfaced at the campaign rallies yesterday, with Mr Odinga saying a contractor had been picked to start tarmacking the road in the next two weeks.

He was accompanied by assistant minister Manyala Keya and MPs Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu East), Yusuf Chanzu (Vihiga) and Justus Mugali (Shinyalu).

Separately, the Kamukunji by-election, also slated for May 23, has been described as a litmus test for the pace and shape of national politics, especially for Mr Odinga, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Narc-Kenya chairperson Martha Karua.

Mr Odinga’s ODM gave a direct nomination to Mr Ibrahim Ahmed, who will battle it out with, among others, PNU’s Yusuf Hassan.

Public Health Minister Beth Mugo on Sunday said that PNU supported Mr Hassan as part of a plan to woo the Somali community in the 2012 General Election.

Ms Mugo was speaking while on the campaign trail for Mr Hassan at the Presbyterian Church in Bahati.

“The larger strategy is to win the support of the Somali community in the presidential elections next year,” she told the congregation.

Mr Hassan is counting on the support he has received from Mr Kenyatta, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Internal Security Minister George Saitoti.

On the other hand, Mr Ahmed is said to be counting on the fact that the court ruled in his favour, proving that the 2007 elections were marred with irregularities to the benefit of Mr Simon Mbugua, who has been disqualified from the race.

Other contestants are Brian Weke (Narc-K), Muthoni Kihara (Grand National Union), David Wahiga (Agano), Daniel Omao (Ford People) and James Matagaro (Kenya Social Congress).