By ISAAC ONGIRI iongiri@ke.nationmedia.com ( email the author)
Posted Saturday, March 2 2013 at 21:06
Posted Saturday, March 2 2013 at 21:06
In Summary
- Mr Odinga said he had done his part, adding that it was now up to voters to decide whether to permanently reshape the destiny of their country by voting for change or embracing the status quo.
- The PM also took time out to shower his running mate with praise, describing him as a patriot whose efforts to unite Kenya by shelving his presidential ambitions would be remembered for ever.
- In his speech, Mr Musyoka said the whole world is waiting for Mr Odinga’s victory on Monday, adding that it would mark the rebirth of the country.
- Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula also called on Cord supporters to be alert and to watch over the presidential votes to ensure attempts to manipulate results are thwarted.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga ended his campaign for the presidency by rallying his supporters to vote to the last man and give his coalition a clear win in Monday’s General Election.
Addressing a huge crowd at the Nyayo National Stadium, Mr Odinga and his running mate Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka said they were confident they would emerge victorious and promised a reform-based leadership, an end to impunity and negative ethnicity.
The leaders also criticised Head of Public Service Francis Kimemia for announcing he had invited heads of state for the swearing in of the fourth president, saying he was jumping the gun.
Mr Odinga said he had done his part, adding that it was now up to voters to decide whether to permanently reshape the destiny of their country by voting for change or embracing the status quo.
“On Monday you will have your date with destiny. In this election you can choose to change our country forever by voting against the forces of darkness and retrogression who want to stand in our way,” Mr Odinga said.
In tomorrow’s election, Mr Odinga, the second born son of Kenya’s founding Vice-President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, will be facing off with Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenya’s founding President in an election with many historical echoes.
Mr Odinga, who is contesting the presidency for the third time, spelt out how his government intends to deal with corruption and promotion of democracy.
If elected, he promised to immediately implement his campaign manifesto that promises the creation of one million jobs a year, expansion of the national economy through funding of devolution, universal health care and provision of free primary and secondary education.
But Mr Odinga said the dream of bringing change can only be achieved if every vote is cast Monday.
He called on his supporters to help the disabled, the elderly and the sick to find their way to the polling stations and vote for him.
“Our opponents have been saying the game will be over by 1pm but I want you to come out in large numbers so that we send them packing by 9am,” Mr Odinga told the cheering crowd.
Ills of the past regimes were also revisited with Mr Odinga saying his government would end the era of political assassinations that dominated previous administrations.
He paraded the daughter of the late JM Kariuki, Ms Rosemary Kariuki, and asked the crowd to honour the late champion of democracy who was murdered 38 years ago for opposing certain government policies.
Said Mr Odinga, “I am promising you clean leadership; you know that Raila Odinga has not killed anybody and my father Jaramogi also did not kill anyone. You know I have not grabbed any land and my father Jaramogi did not do so.”
The PM also took time out to shower his running mate with praise, describing him as a patriot whose efforts to unite Kenya by shelving his presidential ambitions would be remembered for ever.
“Mr brother Kalonzo Musyoka who was contesting for the presidency did something very patriotic. I want to say that after Monday we will form the government together and work for you together,” he said.
Mr Musyoka and Mr Odinga also dismissed rumours that their relationship was built on quicksand and would soon collapse, telling their supporters that their unity was genuine and in the interest of Kenya.
In his speech, Mr Musyoka said the whole world is waiting for Mr Odinga’s victory on Monday, adding that it would mark the rebirth of the country.
He, however, predicted that the country could sink ‘irredeemably’ if their opponents won the election that opinion polls show is a dead heat between Mr Kenyatta and Mr Odinga.
“We want to tell the Head of Public Service that his announcements that he had invited President Obama and other world leaders is null and void. It is Mr Odinga who will after Monday write to President Obama and the rest requesting them to attend the State installation of Kenya’s fourth President,” Mr Musyoka said.
He warned Kenyans they will ‘feel wasted’ if they don’t elect Mr Odinga, adding that getting a leader with the same qualities exhibited by the Cord flag-bearer may not be easy.
He accused the Jubilee leaders of dishonesty and asked Kenyans to shun them because they were in the presidential race for self-preservation.
“Every part of this country is important. On Monday by casting your vote for Mr Odinga you will be dealing a major blow to negative ethnicity,” he stated.
He further said that a vote for Cord would be a vote in defense of the new Constitution which he warned was in danger of mutilation if their opponents won the elections.
“Kenyans, be serious. How can you elect people who came here the other day to show us ‘Red Card’? How can you trust them with our Constitution?” he asked.
Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula also called on Cord supporters to be alert and to watch over the presidential votes to ensure attempts to manipulate results are thwarted.
“Voters must be alert. Make sure our votes are safe. We are also asking the police to give full protection to every Kenyan,” he said.
Mr Odinga had earlier led his two partners in rallies in Kajiado County where they toured Namanga, Kajiado and Kitengela towns.
In Namanga, he dismissed his opponents’ view that Cord would be trumped even before vote counting starts on Monday.
At the Nyayo National Stadium, four helicopters overflew the venue of Mr Odinga’s rally attracting thunderous applause from Cord supporters.
During the rally, gubernatorial candidate on People’s Democratic Party, Mr Eric Mokua, stepped down in favour of ODM’s Dr Evans Kidero.
Additional reporting by Aggrey Mutambo
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