Raila in last-ditch push for Kamukunji

Monday, 16 May 2011 00:06 BY HENRY KIBIRA AND EVANS NYAMWAYA

CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Margaret Wanjiru, Ibrahim Ahmed and Raila Odinga at the rally in Eastleigh.

CAMPAIGNS for Kamukunji by-election slated for May 23 hit fever pitch yesterday with aspirants in last minute effort to woo voters Prime Minister Raila Odinga was in the constituency for the second time in a week to drum up support for ODM's Ibrahim Ahmed "Johnny". Odinga urged the constituents to elect Johnny so as to realise the long-awaited development: “Kenya needs change, we have the remedy that you need to resolve your problems,” he said, adding that his party was denied victory in the last election forcing him to go into a coalition with the Party of National Unity.
He said that ODM’s policies and those of their coalition partners were as different as night and day, making it hard for meaningful implementation to be realised “ODM supported the new constitution, while others were water melons. During the day they were green and would turn red at night,” he said, in reference to some Members of Parliament perceived to have been undecided in the initial stages of constitutional referendum campaigns.
He warned party rebels to beware of a looming storm which will sweep them away in the 2012 elections. He said that if elected, Johnny will address the plight of the locals. “We are determined to bring services to the people, we will ensure that wananchi get access to water, enhance garbage collection, build roads and end cases of land grabbing.” PM urged voters to turn up in large numbers and vote for his candidate, saying that the election was a litmus test for him and his party in the 2012 elections.
He cited unrest in North Africa and Middle East where public has facilitated change of some governments, as an example of people being tired with status quo. “It is high time we transformed our economy from dependency to self-reliant. We cannot sit back and watch as Kenyans suffer due to escalating price of flour,” he said.
He dismissed the infamous “KKK” alliance as a spent force, reiterating the need for one Kenya: “KKK ni kula Kenya kabisa,” (KKK is eat Kenya completely), in reference to corruption in the country. He urged the locals to unite and shun tribalism and discrimination. Johnny told the crowd that the Independent Interim Electoral Commission had vowed to ensure the elections were free and fair. “I urge anyone who may have lost their voters’ cards to get a duplicate from the IIEC offices. We need to vote as a bloc.”
He pledged to work with Nairobi City Council and ensure that the recent rent hike of council houses in the constituency were not effected The Kamukunji seat fell vacant following the nullification of the election of Simon Mbugua through a petition by Ibrahim Ahmed.