Mudavadi cautions against coalitions

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PHOTO | COURTESY Crowds mob presidential aspirant Musalia Mudavadi in Kitale Town on his way to a rally at Kenyatta Stadium in Kitale.  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By PHILIP BWAYO pbwayo@ke.nationmedia.com AND BENSON AMADALA bamadala@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Sunday, November 18  2012 at  00:30

IN SUMMARY

• Mudavadi said he would prioritise education if elected, saying the current government plan is only focused on primary education leaving many youth with no option to further their education
• Speaking at Kenyatta Stadium in Kitale, the DPM hit out at the government for neglecting police affairs citing the killings in Baragoi
• His words were echoed by Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale who said the country is walking on the path of anarchy if the police are not well equipped to fight crime

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UDF presidential aspirant Musalia Mudavadi has criticised the ongoing coalition building and said Kenyans should be left choose from among those who will run.

“Kenyans should be left to elect who they want to represent them and not basing on imposed alliances,” said Mr Mudavadi, who has recently been part of coalition building talks.

He said he would prioritise education if elected, saying the current government plan is only focused on primary education leaving many youth with no option to further their education.

“About 600,000 pupils don’t make it to secondary school irrespective of their performance because the government education plan only focuses on primary level,” he said.

Speaking at Kenyatta Stadium in Kitale, the DPM hit out at the government for neglecting police affairs citing the killings in Baragoi.

“The welfare of policemen should be looked into by the government to avoid situations where officers are killed in the line of duty,” said the Sabatia MP.

The Sabatia MP is a senior member of the Executive by virtue of being a Deputy Prime Minister.

His words were echoed by Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale who said the country is walking on the path of anarchy if the police are not well equipped to fight crime.

Dr Khalwale asked the President to sack Labour minister John Munyes for what he termed as defending the police Killings.

“President Kibaki should sack Mr Munyes for his remarks on the Baragoi incident,” said Dr Khalwale.

Present at the meeting were MPs Soita Shitanda, George Khaniri, Manyala Keya and former legislators Dr Mukhisa Kituyi and Mr Mark Too.

Speaking separately at Kachibora, Ford-Kenya presidential aspirant and Trade minister Moses Wetang’ula urged locals not be duped by most upcoming parties that he said don’t have their interests at heart.

“Some of these parties are only for sale so you should take care when joining them,” said the Sirisia MP.

Mr Wetang’ula opposed what he termed as tribal outfits that are regrouping in readiness for the elections, saying they don’t mean well for this country.

“You should shun these tribal groups that will tear apart this country instead of putting it together,” he said.

“I will formulate policies to solve your land issues if elected (president) and will champion for the establishment of a maize milling plant in Trans Nzoia,” said the Ford-Kenya leader.

Bumula legislator Wakoli Bifwoli was among party officials who accompanied him.

And in Khwisero market, Kakamega County, presidential aspirant Peter Kenneth warned that alliances being formed by parties ahead of the General Election were meant to hoodwink Kenyans to vote in leaders who could not deliver on their promises.

The Kenya National Congress (KNC) presidential aspirants said some of his competitors were busy pushing for alliances to avoid having their track record scrutinised by voters.

“Some presidential aspirants have become obsessed with forming alliances when we know they have very little or nothing to offer if elected to the presidency,” said the Gatanga MP.

Mr Kenneth, who was addressing a campaign rally, said Kenyans should look at the individual track record of those in the race for the presidency before deciding on who would serve as their next president.

“My track record is there for all to look at and I have nothing to hide; and if I am given a chance to become the next president, my agenda is to make a difference in the lives of Kenyans by providing better leadership, focusing on development and not just mere politics,” said the Planning assistant minister.