Sunday, February 24, 2013

Karua and Muite bid for a share of votes in Raila’s stronghold


Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua and her Safina counterpart Paul Muite camped in the region considered a stronghold of Prime Minister Raila Odinga to seek support from the residents. Photo/FILE
By ELISHA OTIENO elisha_otieno@yahoo.com  ( email the author)

Posted  Sunday, February 24  2013 at  00:30
In Summary
  • The two presidential candidates promise to fight graft and improve livelihoods
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Migori Town played host to two presidential candidates on Saturday as the campaigns entered the homestretch.
Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua and her Safina counterpart Paul Muite camped in the region considered a stronghold of Prime Minister Raila Odinga to seek support from the residents.
They addressed crowds at the border town within a one hour interval. Ms Karua was the first to arrive before Mr Muite, in the company of his running mate Shem Ochuodho, came calling.
Ms Karua told Kenyans not to vote for the Jubilee Alliance candidate Uhuru Kenyatta until he is cleared by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“I appeal to my brothers and sisters in the country not to gamble with their lives and future and vote for prosperity. Our laws require that one steps aside from public office once charged in court of law and ICC is not different,” she asserted.
She said her administration would address poverty, unemployment and inequality that affected most parts of the country.
“But above all I will deal with escalating corruption to make sure it is eliminated from the public sector. I know of people who entered Parliament in 2008 when very broke but are now damn rich and are busy doing very expensive campaigns,” said the Narc-Kenya leader.
Accompanied by her running mate Augustine Lotodo, Ms Karua warned that Kenyans will continue to suffer if theft of public funds was not stopped.
Fight graft
“ I am the only presidential candidate who is untainted with graft and who is committed to fight it, others are just pretenders who want your vote so that they continue to amass more wealth,” she noted.
The former Gichugu MP claimed the country’s justice system only favoured the rich. “Our jails are filled with petty offenders while large scale thieves are enjoying life with their families,” charged Ms Karua.
She promised free primary and secondary education and free medicare in public health facilities.
On his part, Mr Muite reiterated that there would be no justice at The Hague-based court unless President Kibaki was hauled in the dock.
In the loop
He claimed the Head of State was properly “in the loop” of the events preceding the 2008 post-election violence and should never be let scot-free.
But curiously, the Safina leader avoided mentioning Mr Odinga although during the last presidential debate he said the two principals should face ICC charges as well. He could have considered his audience on Saturday.
The senior counsel said Sh14 billion was being allocated in the budget annually for the purchase of police uniforms but the money ended up in the pockets of a few people.
“You and I know very well that these uniforms are not replaced every year. This is just a conduit to siphon public funds from the desperate taxpayers,” he added.
The former Kabete MP said his Government would invest heavily in the cottage industries to create job opportunities to the youth.

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