Raila urges leaders to shun tribal pacts

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Prime Minister Raila Odinga (right) is registered as a voter at the Old Kibera registration centre, Nairobi on November 27 2012. His wife Ida (left) and son Fidel also registered. Photo|PHOEBE OKALL  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By LUCAS BARASA lbarassa@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Wednesday, November 28  2012 at  00:30

IN SUMMARY

• Mr Odinga accused some politicians of dividing Kenyans through tribal alliances.
• The PM urged the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission to ensure a credible election to avoid the 2007 scenario when the polls were marred by “rumours and allegations and malpractices”.
• At the same time, the Prime Minister has asked ODM officials seeking elective seats in the coming elections to relinquish their positions to create a level playing field for all aspirants seeking the party’s ticket.

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Prime Minister Raila Odinga has asked politicians to preach peace among Kenyans ahead of next year’s elections.

Mr Odinga accused some politicians of dividing Kenyans through tribal alliances.

“Political competition should be on ideology and not tribal coalitions in bid to get power. Elections are not war.

"There must be number one and two but at the end the competitors should be able to greet each other and co-exist,” Mr Odinga said after registering as a voter in the newly created Kibera constituency at the DO’s grounds.

NATIONAL AGENDA

ISSUE 1 - Job Creation ISSUE 2 -Food Security ISSUE 3 - Healthcare ISSUE 4 - Education ISSUE 5 - Energy ISSUE 6 - Water & Environment ISSUE 7 - Social Protection ISSUE 8 - Public Infrastructure ISSUE 9 - National Security & Foreign Policy ISSUE 10 - Boosting Exports ISSUE 11 - Devolution ISSUE 12 - Ethnicity

The PM urged the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission to ensure a credible election to avoid the 2007 scenario when the polls were marred by “rumours and allegations and malpractices”.

“Kenyans should not go to election with doubts like in 2007. Every question, every doubt should be addressed adequately,” said Mr Odinga who was accompanied by wife Ida and son Fidel.

At the same time, the Prime Minister has asked ODM officials seeking elective seats in the coming elections to relinquish their positions to create a level playing field for all aspirants seeking the party’s ticket.

This comes in the wake of discontent among some aspirants who have complained that party officials were frustrating their efforts to secure tickets by imposing ‘hurdles’ to make it easy for their cronies or themselves to win the nominations.

But speaking in Voi at the weekend, Mr Odinga assured party supporters the nominations would be free, fair and transparent.

“We cannot bungle the next elections through partisan politics because in ODM we are all equal and count to win the polls,” he said, adding that no aspirant would be given direct nomination.

He warned those using national officials’ names to intimidate or harass others at branch levels, saying they would be reprimanded.