Candidates release campaigns diary

Eagle Alliance presidential candidate Peter Kenneth addresses a campaign rally at Nyamaiya in Nyamira County. [Photo: Naftali Makori/Standard]

By Geoffrey Mosoku

Kenya: With only 29 days to go before Kenyans elect the fourth President, it is all systems go within leading coalitions as each seeks to enhance chances for victory in the few days left.

They have rolled out their countrywide campaign programmes, and they mainly focus on selected swing vote and populous areas, with all of them planning the final national rally for Nairobi just a day to or on the eve of March 2 deadline for campaigning.

Apart from Amani Coalition presidential candidate Musalia Mudavadi, who will camp in his Western Province stronghold, Coalition for Reforms and Democracy’s flag-bearer Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his Jubilee counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta will be pitching camp in Nairobi on the last day of campaigning.

It has almost become a tradition for main presidential candidates to either hold their rallies at the historic Uhuru Park or at the Nyayo National Stadium where they ensure they pack the venues with supporters in a demonstration of might and numbers, and this time round it is no exception.

However, neither Uhuru nor Raila’s team has disclosed where it would hold its final rally in the capital but most likely it would depend on who has booked which venue first. 

But a day earlier, on March 1, Mudavadi would have had his rally in Nairobi before heading to Western to consolidate his ‘home ground’ vote.

Mudavadi will hold rallies in both Kakamega and Bungoma counties in a bid to woo voters from his backyard to vote for him.

It is widely believed Mudavadi could be holding the trump card for the next president in the event there is a run off.

Legal requirement

In campaign schedules submitted to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission last week, copies of which are with The Standard, the presidential campaign secretariats for the respective candidates have lined up various events and rallies countrywide.

The documents were submitted in line with the requirements of new electoral laws before presidential candidates are cleared to run.  

All the campaign teams gave an outline of the areas they intend to cover before the campaigns close on March 2 as per the law.

Raila’s team indicates it will cover all the 47 counties in the next three weeks; with some days having the campaign teams divided into two or three groups.

For instance, the PM and his running mate, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, who were in Gusii region yesterday covered the two counties of Nyamira and Kisii.

A team led by Raila began from Gucha District; with that led by Kalonzo starting from Borabu District in Nyamira County. They later converged in Kisii town for a joint rally at Gusii stadium.

Two more teams will be headed to Busia, Vihiga, and Nandi on one side while another will be in Bomet, Kericho and Narok counties on the same dates their colleagues will be in Central Kenya.

Amani coalition has indicated it would have two teams and divided the campaign programme into five trails to cover the entire country. The first trail has already been covered while the second trail of February 5 to 17th will have both teams cover Kajiado, Nyandarua, Tharaka Nithi, Murang’a, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Marsabit, Nakuru, Isiolo and Nakuru Counties.

The fourth trail would be on February18 to 24th, targeting Nairobi, Marsabit, Wajir, Kajiado, Mandera, Bomet, Garissa, Kericho, Lamu, Kisii, Kwale, Nyamira and Taita Taveta.

The fifth trail will then cover West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Nandi, Vihiga, Nakuru, Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet on February 25 to 28th while the final trail will be in Nairobi on March 1 before retreating to Western.

Karua schedule

Narc Kenya’s candidate Martha Karua will today be in Elgeyo Marakwet and tomorrow head to Baringo County. As from Thursday to Sunday she will tour Murang’a, Kiambu, Kirinyaga and Embu counties.

The flower party flag bearer is then expected to head to North Rift counties of Turkana and Nandi between February 12 and 14th.

As from the February 17 to 20th, she will then turn to Coastal counties of Taita Taveta, Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu and Tana River.

Karua will then head to Laikipia, Meru, and Nyeri as from February 22 to 24th before going to Lower Eastern as from February 26 to 28, with special attention to Kitui, Machakos and Makueni Counties.

On March 1 and 2nd, the former Gichugu MP will pitch tent in Nairobi to plead her final case.

Eagle Alliance Presidential candidate Peter Kenneth who was in Nyamira County yesterday will today be in Trans Nzoia and is slated to have a rally in Nairobi on Friday.  On Saturday and Sunday he will be in Nakuru and Nyandarua before returning to Nairobi on Monday next week.

The following day, the ‘Tunawesmake’ candidate will be in Mombasa County.