By PATRICK MAYOYO pmayoyo@ke.nationmedia.com AND PETER LEFTIE pmutibo@ke.nationmedia.com (email the author)
Posted Sunday, February 10 2013 at 21:46
Posted Sunday, February 10 2013 at 21:46
In Summary
- As candidates burn about Sh10m a day on choppers alone, this is shaping up to be the best resourced election, in terms of expertise and materials, ever. But is it good democracy?
Presidential candidates continued to intensify their campaigns for the final push towards the March 4 polls.
Key in their final onslaught just 20 days to the election day is the selling of their manifestos to the public through advertisements in newspapers, radios, television stations, social media, public rallies and road shows.
On Sunday, Amani Coalition presidential candidate Musalia Mudavadi launched his manifesto with a promise of peace, reconciliation and security for all Kenyans, following on the policy programmes unveiled earlier by Cord Coalition’s Raila Odinga and Jubilee’s Uhuru Kenyatta.
Addressing hundreds of party supporters who thronged the grounds at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, Mr Mudavadi said top on his list was heavy investment in education, food security and the infrastructure projects under Vision 2030.
As Mr Mudavadi launched his manifesto in Nairobi cautioning Kenyans to be wary of rivals promising the impossible, other candidates intensified the hunt for votes in different parts of the country.
Mr Kenyatta and his Jubilee Coalition running mate William Ruto wrapped up their tour of the North Rift on Sunday with a promise of reconciliation and unity among Kenyans after the 2007/2008 post-election violence if elected to take over the country’s leadership.
They said the message of peace and reconciliation among communities that suffered the brunt of the post-election violence was not tied to the March 4 General Election.
“Critics who termed TNA and URP coalition as political suicide are now our die hard supporters after realising that our goal is unity and drive for socio-economic development of the country,” said Mr Ruto.
Speaking at Ukunda Showground in Kwale County, where they finalised their Coast tour, Mr Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka said Cord was ready to fight corruption and bring service to the people.
The PM termed those who regard him as too old for leadership as his age mates with no added advantage.
“I am not old and all those who call me old are my age mates. Anybody past 50 years is not young,” said Mr Odinga.
Mr Musyoka dismissed reports that their coalition would be sharing the powers in the government on a 50-50 basis between the President and deputy President.
“Ignore the story in the press. Draft documents are just that, drafts. They can be used for negotiation but cannot be used to divide people,” said Mr Musyuoka.
And speaking in Nyandarua County, Eagle Alliance candidate Peter Kenneth asked Mr Odinga to stop discussing the land issue in political rallies.
Addressing a public rally in Ol Kalou Town, Mr Kenneth said that Mr Odinga had the opportunity but failed to act.
It is estimated that the four leading election coalitions are spending as much as Sh10 million every day to hire helicopters for their campaigns.
Figures obtained from players in the aviation industry revealed that the four main coalitions — Jubilee, Cord, Amani and Eagle — were spending an average of Sh2.5 million to hire a single chopper for a day.
Nation established that to cut on the cost of hiring choppers on a day to day basis, the main presidential campaign teams have opted to lease the aircrafts for the entire duration of the campaigns which officially ends on March 2.
“We have realised it is cheaper to hire them long term because that way you enjoy very generous discounts,” said Ford Kenya leader and one of the Cord Coalition leading lights Moses Wetangula.
In 2007, both the PNU and ODM presidential campaign teams did not have more than two helicopters, compared to more than 16 helicopters being used in this year’s campaigns.
This makes this year’s campaigns one of the most expensive.
According to Phoenix Aviation Ltd Chief Pilot Helicopter Operations, Christopher Stewart, a five-seater aircraft costs Sh191,400 per flight hour, excluding VAT.
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