Political campaigns gain momentum

Written By:Eric Biegon/Rose Welimo,    Posted: Sun, Oct 21, 2012

The URP Presidential hopeful William Ruto Eldoret North Member of Parliament William Ruto continued to keep his cards close to the chest hinting at a possible political alliance with The National Alliance Party leader Uhuru Kenyatta. And only a few days after speculations emerged that he secretly met Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Ruto says he is ready to engage other presidential contenders in dialogue ahead of the March 4th general election. He spoke as Kibwezi Member of Parliament Phillip Kaloki said the current political realignments will not affect the G7 alliance. The URP Presidential hopeful William Ruto has been touted by some political pundits as the possible kingmaker in the next general election. And with reports that ODM Presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his TNA counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta are seeking his support, Ruto says he is open to dialogue with other presidential candidates. Ruto who spoke while on a popularization tour of his party in Subukia hinted at a possible merger between him and Uhuru Kenyatta. Speaking in Migori County, Prime Minister Raila Odinga assured minority communities that the Orange Democratic Movement party will protect their political interests during the coming general polls. He dispelled their fears and reiterated that the party will ensure that all communities in the cosmopolitan county got their fair share of representation in elective positions to promote unity of Kenyans. The Premier who was on a campaign trail in Kehancha town of Kuria constituency directed local Members of parliament to formulate a committee to work on modalities of sharing the county seats among the communities. "I want to allay your fears that no community irrespective of their population ratio will be left out in the county and that is why the committee to finalize their work in two weeks so that we move forward as united people" he said. He urged communities in the area to coexist in harmony to ensure that the county served as a success story of our unity in diversity under the new dispensation. Elsewhere the Party of Action POA Presidential Aspirant Raphael Tuju who took his campaigns to Kisumu termed as empty rhetoric the alliance talks which he said will not help solve a myriad of problems facing Kenyans after the next election. Tuju said he is in talks with other Presidential hopefuls among them Prime Minister Raila Odinga with an aim of plotting ways of ensuring peaceful elections. The POA presidential candidate also said that challenges facing the youth in this country must be addressed through job creation.  In Kuresoi, the Kenya National Congress Presidential hopeful Peter Kenneth who attended a church service at Kaplamboi AGC continued to endear himself to the voters by asking Kenyans to co-exist and evaluate all presidential contenders before electing them.  His RBK counterpart Prof. James Ole Kiyiapi who attended a  prayer service at AIC Bomani church in Machakos lashed at politicians who are using tribal groupings to gain political mileage, as the political temperatures gather momentum.  At the Bomas of Kenya, Former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara became the latest entrant in an already congested Presidential race as he launched his political vehicle, the People's Democratic Party PDP. Magara promised to revitalize key sectors of the country among them agriculture if elected the next Head of State. So far, the Presidential race has attracted at least 15 aspirants.  And speaking in Nairobi, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi promised to sort out problems of insecurity, unemployment and poverty that bedevil urban areas in Kenya. On security, the DPM urged Kenyans to support the security personnel and systems in the country to ensure peace before and after the elections so that Kenyans feel free and safe to carry on with their lives.