By NATION REPORTER
Posted Friday, February 17 2012 at 20:55
Posted Friday, February 17 2012 at 20:55
Prime Minister Raila Odinga is an all out drive to woo Central Kenya voters who have traditionally been suspicious and resentful of him.
He has been holding a series of meetings with youth and business leaders.
In the campaign, Mr Odinga whose politics have been dogged with charges of being anti-Kikuyu, is keen to recast himself as mature, accommodative and friendly to business.
Mr Odinga also appears keen to debunk the belief that his presidency will injure Kikuyu business and also fight the notion that he engineered the prosecution of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta at the International Criminal Court.
The ODM leader seeks to project himself as the candidate most qualified to sustain President Kibaki’s legacy largely defined by remarkable economic growth and expansion of infrastructure especially roads and airports. (READ: Central leaders unveil Raila campaign plan)
In addition, the PM appears determined to show that he has enjoyed working with Kikuyu politicians, especially in the fight for restoration of multi-party democracy in the late 90’s.
“I worked closely with Paul Muite and Kenneth Matiba. I have nominated a Kikuyu councillor in Langata constituency. Is this tribalism?” he asked when he addressed youth, politicians and business leaders from Murang’a County two weeks ago.
Those propelling his forays into Central include former attorney-general Charles Njonjo, businessman David Kuguru, Kiambaa MP Stanley Githunguri, and Mr Ngunjiri Wambugu, the youthful leader of the Change Associates Trust which hosted the PM for breakfast on Monday February 6.
Mr Kuguru also hosted the PM for a much publicised lunch at a Nairobi restaurant on Friday. During the breakfast meeting, Mr Odinga announced that he will tour Central Kenya in April.
His critics point out that winning the hearts and minds of Central will be an uphill task. They argue that politicians on Mr Odinga’s camp such as Mr Kuguru and Mr Njonjo hold no sway in Central Kenya.
Second, the raid at the home of Lari MP David Njuguna after making a statement which was interpreted as an endorsement of Mr Odinga was a signal of the continued mistrust between the PM’s Luo and Kikuyus.
During a tour of Murang’a last year, Mr Odinga sought to fight the image that he was a vengeful tribalist.
He recalled that in the run up to independence in the 1960s, his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga declined to be the President of Kenya until Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, a respected nationalist and Kikuyu leader was released to lead the country.
Though not categorical in support of Mr Odinga, Mr Wambugu on Friday encouraged the PM to continue engaging the Kikuyu.
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