Sunday, June 10, 2012

Project Mania as election mood sets in


By STANDARD ON SUNDAY TEAM
There was little change in tone as presidential hopefuls fanned out across the country in a hunt for votes a day after meeting over peaceful campaigns.
Various leaders made campaign stops in vote-rich regions of Rift Valley, Western and Central, which are key battleground zones in the race to succeed President Kibaki.
The flurry of rallies came a day after Kibaki declared there would be no endorsements from State House during a national conference in Mombasa at which leaders promised to conduct peaceful, issue-based campaigns.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga toured Naivasha and Bomet, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka spoke in Nairobi, while Deputy PM Musalia Mudavadi addressed leaders in Bungoma. Deputy PM Uhuru Kenyatta was in Maralal for a third day of campaigns in Samburu County, while Planning Assistant Minister Peter Kenneth addressed a rally in Bomet County.
ODM members led by party leader Raila sustained their campaign of “political harassment” against Mudavadi. Addressing a rally at Karuturi Stadium in Naivasha, ODM MPs alleged a scheme to undermine ODM in Mudavadi’s presidential candidature.
Undermining ODM
They claimed Mudavadi’s defection from the party to the United Democratic Forum (UDF) party, on whose ticket he intends to run for president, was meant to undermine ODM.
“There are some projects being formed, but this will not shake ODM as we prepare to form the next government,” claimed acting Local Government minister Fred Gumo.
Raila compared some politicians to a donkey that tires just when it was about to arrive at its destination, possibly referring to those who left ODM before it has fulfilled its destiny.
He earlier said the 2013 election would be a two-horse race in which some donkeys would take part.
Raila also returned to the generational change argument pushed by the G7 Alliance and Mudavadi, who says he is ready for political retirement. He dismissed his critics as politically naïve. “Some people are comparing me to Pele while they equate themselves to Messi,” Raila said. “It’s funny because they are rugby players.”
Ministers Gumo and Anyang’ Nyong’o and MPs Margaret Wanjiru, John Mbadi, Manson Nyamweya, and the PM’s wife Ida Odinga were present. In Nairobi, the Vice-President cautioned Kenyans against electing corrupt leaders.
He urged voters to safeguard the gains so far achieved by President Kibaki. Kalonzo said Kenyans have to choose a leader who has vowed to fight against poverty, ignorance, and bad leadership.

“You have to get rid of bad leadership,” the VP said during the graduation ceremony at the International Leadership University, Nairobi, Saturday.
In Samburu, Uhuru accused one of his opponents of basking in his former glory.
“This is the time to implement the Constitution we enacted, not the time to look at issues through the rearview mirror. This is the time for leaders to tell Kenyans what they would do, not what they could have done,” Uhuru said.
TNA campaigns
The Gatundu South MP, who spent a third day selling The National Alliance in Samburu County, told Kenyans to reject leaders who incite violence among communities.
He was accompanied by Cabinet Minister Naomi Shabaan, Assistant ministers Ferdinard Waititu, Kareke Mbiuki, Lee Kinyanjui, Kabando wa Kabando, and MPs Maisomo Leshomo, Yusuf Hassan, and Abdul Bahari.
In Bomet County, Peter Kenneth urged voters to assess presidential aspirants based on their records in positions they have held.
“As Kenyans we have an opportunity to evaluate our leaders. Let’s rate all those seeking public office on what they have delivered to the electorate while they served in their various offices,” said the Gatanga MP.
Kenneth, who is seeking the presidency on a Kenya National Congress ticket, urged Kenyans to shun politicians obsessed with maligning others instead of addressing issues.
“We should not entertain leaders who are abusing each other at rallies. Let us demand that issues dominate campaigns.”
Party agenda
While most politicians pay lip- service to issues, these rarely get a life outside their party manifestoes. Campaigners rarely challenge each other on track records or specific plans for government.
Kenneth cautioned the Kalenjin community against falling prey to politics of euphoria. Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto, Bomet Mayor Joyce Korir, local councillors, and other aspirants accompanied Kenneth in the tour of Chepalungu.
In Embu, presidential aspirant James ole Kiyiapi dismissed claims the contest will be a two-horse race. Kiyiapi said the presidential contest would be “a derby” that would “pull a surprise”.
He chided those likening their rivals to donkeys that they would be in for shock. Echoing an observation by Ikolomani MP Bonni Khalwale, the former Education PS added that Jesus Christ’s grand entry to Jerusalem was on a donkey’s back.
“Those comparing the race for the presidency to a two-horse race are the ones who are racing against themselves and they should realise the impact of other aspirants in the race,” he said.

-— Reporting by Antony Gitonga, Roselyne Obala, Joseph Muchiri and Peter Atsiaya

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