Spectacle as Raila, Ruto hold rallies in Isiolo town

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PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI URP presidential candidate William Ruto addresses a political rally at Isiolo stadium shortly after ODM leader Raila Odinga had left the venue.  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By PATRICK NZIOKA pnzioka@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Monday, November 12  2012 at  17:56

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Isiolo town on Monday witnessed a spectacle as presidential candidates Raila Odinga and William Ruto addressed meetings at the same venue in a space of less than two hours.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga was the first in town to addresses a rally at the Isiolo stadium, where he has assured chiefs and their assistants that an ODM government would retain them in their jobs.

Immediately Mr Odinga finalized his speech, government officers quickly rolled up the red card and dismantled the temporary toilet saying they were only allowed to roll out such facilities to senior government officials.

As they were finalizing their bit, pick-ups full of chairs drove in and set up another stage from where Mr Ruto would address his rally.

The crowd dispersed from the stadium after Mr Odinga's rally, but reconvened as Mr Ruto and his entourage drove in.

While Mr Odinga primarily dealt on drumming support for his candidature, Mr Ruto called on the two coalition principals to urgently deal with the security situation in the country.

Mr Ruro appealed to Kenyans to maintain peace, saying police deaths in Baragoi are unacceptable.

“We are putting those fomenting violence in the country on notice that their time is over. We call on the government to act and make the country secure," Mr Ruto said.

Mr Ruto called on his rivals to stop putting obstacles on his candidature and that of TNA leader Uhuru Kenyatta but instead sell their manifestos to the people.

Mr Odinga told the chiefs and the entire provincial administration to ignore those saying the provincial administration will cease to exist once he is elected as the President.

He called on members of the provincial administration to shun such politicians, saying they were only engaging in propaganda.

He at the same time called on the administrators to desist from engaging in politics, saying they were not allowed by the civil service code of conduct.

“Those saying chiefs will be sacked are the same ones who were opposed to the new constitution. They are now spreading propaganda and lies that ODM will sack chiefs. Chiefs should not be worried because your work is safe. Do not be dragged into politics against ODM," he said.