Vote hunting rallies at the Coast

Vote hunting rallies at the Coast Written By:Martin Mwanje,    Posted: Sun, May 20, 2012

Odinga held a public rally in Likoni while Mudavadi held a parallel one in Tononoka grounds (File) The Coastal town of Mombasa played host to two presidential hopefuls with Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his deputy Musalia Mudavadi conducting parallel rallies as they sought to raise their political stakes in Region.  While Prime Minister Raila Odinga promised to look into the problems bedeviling the region, Mudavadi said he was the best suited candidate to invigorate the country's politics. The intensity of the rhetoric by the two political heavyweights perhaps a pointer to the importance of the Coastal Region in shaping the country's political path ahead of the forthcoming general elections.Both camps had earlier set the pace of the rallies with various events seeking to popularize their presidential bids to Coast voters, setting precedence as the first rival presidential candidates to hold parallel rallies in the same town during this campaign period.  ODM's Presidential hopeful Raila Odinga held a public rally in Likoni while his UDF counterpart Musalia Mudavadi held a parallel one in Tononoka grounds. Speaking during the rally, Raila promised to address the problems synonymous with the coastal region if elected the next president of Kenya. Speaking earlier at a Church Service, Raila condemned the recent attacks against the church in the country, calling on Kenyans to remain vigilant in defeating the cowardly acts. The PM also said the forthcoming election will pit reformers against those hell-bent in maintaining the status quo, exuding confidence his ODM Party will emerge triumphant at the ballot. He spoke as his former ally cum political nemesis Musalia Mudavadi led his foot soldiers in marketing his UDF outfit in Tononoka grounds, assuring Coastal residents that if elected, he will give prioritize their grievances. Buoyed by his political supporters, the UDF Presidential hopeful promised to deliver what his predecessors have failed to deliver saying the country is in urgent need of young blood. Ikolomani Legislator Bonny Khalwale chose to refer to Raila's sentiments that Mudavadi had been a good student, saying he remains the man to beat come the next election.