Photo/FILE Prime Minister Raila Odinga addresses a past rally at Kamukunji grounds, Kibera in Langata constituency.
By DAVE OPIYO dopiyo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, December 18 2011 at 21:17
Posted Sunday, December 18 2011 at 21:17
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called for a peaceful, free and fair General Election next year.
At the same time, Mr Odinga asked the Independent Boundaries and Electoral Commission to ensure the integrity of the elections to avert a repeat of the 2007 post-poll chaos.
Speaking after attending a church service at Kibera, Nairobi, the PM further asked those vying for various elective positions to accept the people’s verdict.
“ We need to remain united, forgive each other...there is no need for us to witness a repeat of the blood that spilt in 2007,” said the PM who was accompanied by his wife Ida.
“An election is not a war but a competition. Once voters have cast their ballots, we need to respect their wishes,” he added.
The PM, who after the church service toured the slum to inspect development projects, declared that ODM was now ready for the 2012 polls.
Describing the forthcoming elections as a ‘rematch’ between him and his PNU counterparts, Mr Odinga expressed confidence that ODM would emerge victorious.
“We scored the winning goal during our last match but it was ruled offside,” said the PM in an apparent reference to the outcome of the last General Election.
At least 1,000 people were killed and more than 650,000 others rendered homeless in the violence that followed the contested elections.
He said that was now in the past as they had worked well with President Kibaki in developing the country.
The PM asked Kenyans to be vigilant and not to vote in those who opposed the passage of the Constitution, which he said, offered a solid foundation for the country’s governance.
This, he said, was because it would offer an opportunity for Kenyans to fight four challenges facing them including ignorance, poverty, disease and bad governance.
He further revealed that the slum upgrading programme that was halted by a court case was set to resume. “We want our people to live good and hygienic lives,” said the PM.
He warned those living on government land to vacate voluntarily instead of waiting to be evicted through demolitions.
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