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