Elections: Raila predicts win in first round

Written By:PMPS/Kennedy Epalat/David Mwanje,    Posted: Mon, Nov 12, 2012

The PM stated that losing was not an option Prime Minister Raila Odinga has  said that he will win  the Presidential contest in the first round and asked Kenyans to ignore  reports  indicating  a likelihood of a runoff. Mr. Odinga who is the ODM Party leader pointed out that defections  by members to other parties had not affected  his popularity and that of the party emphasizing that he will garner enough support across the country to emerge winner in the first round. "We are in this game to win, losing is not an option," he stated. The PM was speaking Monday when he addressed a leaders meeting at Sarova Shaba hotel in Isiolo at the conclusion of his six day campaign tour in Meru and Isiolo counties. He went on to say that ODM will seek to win most seats in contest to avoid a situation where he will have a lame duck government even after winning the Presidential race. "We want to have majority of   Senatorial, gubernatorial, MPs, county representative and women representatives    so as to have smooth implementation of party policies when we win," he added. He reiterated that ODM was campaigning on the platform of reform noting the party aims at improving governance in the country by leveling the field where all Kenyans irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds will enjoy all rights enshrined in the constitution. Noting that the constitution was the most important achievement of the coalition government, Mr. Odinga said an ODM government will rigorously implement the constitution to  ensure  that all Kenyans enjoyed  the right to  education , the right to health care, the right to employment, the right to food, the right to shelter and the right to security as provided for in the constitution He expressed dismay that Kenya has lagged behind  in development for the last fifty years because  of bad governance started by the colonial government and  perpetuated by successive independence governments. He said, "We will change all that especially   in the northern Kenya region  which is still suffering from the effects of the sessional paper no. 10 of 1965 that said the government will  invest in high potential areas of the country while northern Kenya then known as the Northern Frontier District benefits from the trickle down effects." Mr. Odinga pointed out that ODM espouses social democratic policies that  will make the economy grow at a rate of 10 per cent and above  saying an expanded economy will  create more job opportunities  for the youth of this country. The PM also spoke about cattle rustling saying it was a primitive and retrogressive practice that had confined pastoralist communities to a life of servitude. "An ODM government will economically empower these communities   so that they can to abandon the practice," he said. As part of this effort, he added, Isiolo was poised to benefit from the Lamu Port South Sudan Transport Corridor (LAPSSET) project that will make the town a centre of economic activity along the road and rail links between Kenya and Ethiopia and Kenya and South Sudan. Kalonzo-Mudavadi mission Vice president Kalonzo Musyoka and Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi have officially embarked on a mission to form a coalition ahead of the march 4th 2013 polls. Allies from the two camps were Monday locked up in a meeting at Serena hotel after which they confirmed ongoing talks between the two parties. This comes just days after Musyoka pulled out from the G7 alliance allegedly for being offered an inferior position by Uhuru and Ruto. After pulling out of the G7 alliance last week after a reported isolation by the Uhuru - Ruto led group, talks of the wiper party leader seeking alliances with other top presidential contenders have been rife. Representatives from Both Kalonzo and Musalia mudavadi today met at serena hotel for talks of a possible merger between the two presidential hopefuls. The meeting that was attended by Bonny Khalwale, Jeremiah Kioni, David Musila and Charles kilonzo agreed that the two are looking into a possibility of forming an alliance to run as one come march 4th 2013 polls. Mudavadi ally Bonny Khalwale confirmed that talks have been ongoing between the two camps and will announce the alliance soon. Wiper party leader Acting chair David Musila maintained that the discussions between the two camps have been structured and healthy. Monday's meeting comes a day after a new opinion poll predicted that if Odinga manages to get Kalonzo or Mudavadi to be running mate he will triumph over Kenyatta-Ruto coalition in the next general election. The Infotrak poll also forecasts that if elections were held today, Prime Minister Raila Odinga would beat Uhuru were he to pick Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi or Ruto as a running mate by taking 52 per cent of the vote. But if Raila teams up with Musalia and Uhuru's running mate is Kalonzo, the PM will win by 52 per cent against Uhuru's 48 per cent even if the Gatundu South MP teams up with Kalonzo or Ruto. The poll also revealed Kalonzo would boost Raila's support in the Coast and North Eastern regions, while votes in Nairobi and Nyanza remained constantly high for the PM regardless of who his running mate is.