PRESIDENTIAL hopeful Raphael Tuju yesterday stunned public in Kisumu when he arrived at the Lakeside city wearing a helmet in readiness to take on the ‘combative’ residents who had previously stoned his entourage. Tuju returned to the city exactly four months after his convoy was stoned at Kondele area when he made his first visit to the town to campaign for his Party of Action and seek support for his presidential ambitions. This time round, Tuju did avoided visiting the area saying it was not in his programme to visit the area.
He criss-crossed the city and after the public assured him of safety he removed the helmet before moving to Nyalenda Estate where he opened a party office. At one point he was compelled to literally plead with some youth who were demanding for cash hand-outs. "Most of the people in my team are volunteers. If anybody is not willing to volunteer for my presidential campaign they should leave with immediate effect," he said.
Attempts by some over-enthusiastic youth to block Tuju's motorcade was quickly thwarted by police who moved in and dispersed them. Unlike other politicians who have campaigned in the town, Tuju opened the party office and did not dish out money. Tuju was escorted from the airport by scores of youth, some of them spotting the party colours, to his first point at the Jua Kali area where he addressed mechanics and other artisans and told them of his commitment to address youth unemployment.
Accompanied by former Kisumu Rural MP Ochoro Ayoki and other party supporters, Tuju attributed the collapse of industries and factories in the region to leaders whom he said had perfected the art of “domo domo.” (endless talk) He also warned of fickle alliances which were based on ethnic groupings as they would not spur any economic development. “The Party of Action you should rest assured is not like the Party of Mass action, this is a party with youth at heart and not formed to spur any violence in the country,” said Tuju.
He contributed Sh75,000 towards the fund the Jua kali artisans had set up to pay for the legal fees in their fight to retain the plot where they were operating from. Outside the Kisumu Municipal market, Tuju asked his audience to accept there were different views and political parties. "Just like we have different vehicles such as Easy Coach, Eldoret Express, Mash Poa, Akamba, Gurdian and even Matunda buses all going to the same destination, so should you accept that there are other buses that you can choose for yourjourney to State House ,” said the former Rarieda MP. Tuju expects to open other offices in Milimani, Kondele, Jua Kali and a main regional office in the Kisumu CBD. He said his aim was to open party offices in all the 47 counties.
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