Raila promises fund to aid youth, women

Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday wound up his campaign tour of Western Province with a pledge to empower the youth and women if elected.

The PM traversed Kakamega County on an extensive tour beginning in Lugari District during which he addressed six rallies at Malaba, Nabakholo, Shianda, Sabatia and Bukura.

Mr Odinga said an ODM government would set up a special fund to provide grants to the youth and women for income-generating projects.

“But the first thing we would do is to train the women and youth groups to achieve high success rates in projects,” he said.

The PM, who was accompanied by Cabinet ministers Anyang’ Nyong’o, Henry Kosgey and assistant minister John Mbadi said ODM was confident of winning the presidency in the next polls.

“Dalili ya mvua ni mawingu (Clouds are a sign of rain). In my campaigns, I get a strong feeling that Kenyans are ready to embrace change through an ODM leadership,” he said.

Mr Odinga, speaking at victory celebrations for the party’s candidate in recent by-elections, Mr Reuben Nyangweso, said voters in Bukura had sent a strong message that ODM was dominant in western Kenya.

“Our opponents had written us off but voters in Bukura had different ideas as they know what ODM stands for,” he said.

The PM said ODM would spend the first five years improving infrastructure, education and the livelihoods of Kenyans.

Senior citizens

Mr Odinga did not leave out the senior citizens as he promised to extend a programme that gives funds to the less privileged and aged.

Industrialisation Minister Henry Kosgey said the elections would determine whether Kenyans were ready to elect reformists.

“This is the very last chance Kenyans have to elect a person who has all along embraced reforms, fought for and delivered the Constitution. If Kenyans vote for another candidate besides Raila Odinga, they would have squandered the opportunity the country needs to open a new chapter in its history,” said the Tinderet MP.