Sunday, June 24, 2012

Jirongo tears into Mudavadi, Ruto candidacy


Jirongo tears into Mudavadi, Ruto candidacy

  SHARE BOOKMARKPRINTEMAILRATING
By BENSON AMADALA AND LINET WAFULA newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, June 23  2012 at  21:47
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi took his campaign to Western Kenya, saying he offers Kenyans the best opportunity to reunite and heal, even as his critics aggressively challenged his candidature in the same turf.
Mr Mudavadi, speaking in Kakamega on Friday, said the General Election set for March 4 next year would be peaceful and give voters a chance to elect credible leaders who will promote peaceful co-existence of the country’s different communities.
However, Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, speaking at a rally in Busia on Saturday, accused Mr Mudavadi and Eldoret North MP William Ruto of running “government projects” as parties.
He added that he had left Mr Ruto’s URP and would be unveiling his party in two weeks’ time.
Mr Jirongo added that URP, on whose ticked he had declared his presidential ambition, was being sponsored by forces close to State House who would not let him vie.
“I cannot be a part of parties and individuals whose drive for the presidency is motivated by the amount of money they get so that they serve the interests of those who bankroll them,” he said.
Dictatorial tendencies
In the past, Mr Jirongo has accused Mr Ruto and those close to him of exhibiting dictatorial tendencies in managing URP, allegations the Eldoret North MP had denied.
Share This Story
Share 
Kaddu party, on whose ticket the MP is in Parliament, failed to meet the registration criteria set for political parties. 
Mr Jirongo further asked Mr Mudavadi to address the allegations that his UDF party was being sponsored by powerful forces around President Kibaki.
Mr Mudavadi has in the past denied any link with the President. He told those questioning his association with other leaders and parties that they were blind to the fact that it is through alliances that he made it in elections.
But yesterday, Mr Jirongo was unrelenting in his criticism. “Their parties are not programmed to grow beyond their ethnicity. Ask questions. You have a right to ask questions as a Kenyan,” he said.
“I’m against projects as they stop us from realising the shared values we have beyond our ethnicity.”
He said he has children from the Luhya, Maasai, Kamba and Kikuyu communities and asked, “Should my children belong to four parties because of these projects? If you balkanise Kenyans into tribes, which ones are you asking me to hate?”
But in his address at different meetings in Sabatia and Busia yesterday, Mr Mudavadi soldiered on with his message, saying he will take his campaign to all regions.
He said he will reach out to leaders from all counties as a strategy to consolidate his support in order to beat his opponents in the first round of elections.
Uncomfortable
“Those who are uncomfortable because I’m working closely with my colleagues from other parties should stop worrying,” said Mr Mudavadi.
Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa, who joined Mr Jirongo on the campaign trail, also asked Kenyans to be wary of political manipulation.
“I’m not a project and refuse to be anyone’s scheme to deny anyone a democratic election,” he said.
On his part, nominated MP Musikari Kombo added that “we are totally against projects. Let the people decide and choose.”

No comments:

Post a Comment