Raila avoids mention of ODM primaries rows

By Standard Team

MACHAKOS, KENYA: Prime Minister Raila Odinga championed his CORD campaigns in Ukambani but steered clear of the building tension in his ODM party occasioned by the discontent in the party nominations.

Raila led CORD at the start of a three-day campaign in Ukambani, as his running mate Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka pleaded with the aspirants and their supporters to avoid “spoiling the alliance’s vote” by squabbling over the nominations debacle.

Kalonzo appeared to cultivate a conciliatory position, urging all those fighting over nomination tickets within CORD to reach out and agree among themselves, promising that those who will not get the tickets would be considered for other appointments.

“We are asking that we do not spoil the CORD vote. If we can reach an agreement, then those who do not get the tickets can get other positions,” said Kalonzo, trying to ease the tension that has erupted since the start of last week’s nominations.

The VP even pleaded with those attending the CORD rally at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos to allow Raila to leave the venue early to go and resolve the disputes within his ODM house, which has roped in his kin, his brother Dr Oburu Odinga and sister Ruth Odinga, both of whom are seeking positions in Nyanza.

But Raila kept off the issue and instead called on the electorate in Ukambani to back the CORD alliance, saying only his Government would improve the economic status of the region.

The Prime Minister attacked their opponents under the Jubilee alliance, saying they could not be entrusted with the fight against corruption. He said the Jubilee leaders had tainted integrity records.

“We want you to take our word, because unlike our colleagues, we are not a people who say one thing and go against it,” said Raila.

Raila said a CORD government would create a special fund for the old to ensure that those above 65 years will benefit. He said the scheme would be rolled out in June if CORD wins.

“We will introduce the Old Persons Social Safety Programme to cater for the elderly. That is our programme, it will not be in our competitor’s manifesto,” said Raila.

Shuttle diplomacy

He also promised to put up a grant fund for the youth, under the Youth Skills Development Programme.

The leaders, who also included Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula, held three separate meetings within Machakos County before they converged at Kenyatta grounds for the rally.

Today, the team heads to Kitui County before winding up their tour of the region tomorrow in Makueni County, addressing a rally at Wote.

Their tour of the region comes barely a week after Jubilee coalition leaders Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto and Charity Ngilu toured the area to popularise their alliance.

Speaking at Machakos, Kalonzo revisited his much criticised shuttle diplomacy to push for a referral of the ICC cases against Uhuru and Ruto, saying the mission had dented his international reputation.

“This was a mission that I undertook in good faith, in the process I lost my international reputation fighting for the two. Unfortunately what I got in reward was a donkey’s kick,” he said.

The VP also said he had an agreement with President Kibaki that the latter would support his presidential bid, but said he had no ill-feelings against the Head of State.

Kalonzo branded Uhuru and Ruto as “ultra-tribalists”, saying their intention was only to use their ethnic populace to win the leadership of the country.

“They kept asking me what I am bringing on the table and when I told them that I had the backing of about a million voters from Ukambani, they told me that number was not sufficient to ride on for the presidency. That is the dictatorship of the majority, we do not want leaders whose aim is to auction their communities,” said Kalonzo.

Wetangula said only the CORD could be relied upon to implement the Constitution to the letter.

“We know where our opponents are. They stand for status quo, while we represent progressive forces,” said Wetangula.

Earlier in the day Raila toured Tala town in Kangundo where he was hosted by former area MP Johnstone Muthama.

The PM also accused his political ally-turned foe, Water minister Charity Ngilu for turning her back on him at the critical hour.

“I offered a ministerial post to Ngilu and even stood by her when allegations of graft threatened her tenure at the Ministry of Water and now she has forgotten all that,” said Raila.

—Story by Moses Njagih, Roselyne Obala, Daniel Nzia and Erastus Mulwa