Politics
Rivals step up hunt for votes
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi (right) is shown around Samitsi Girls School by principal Wilbroda Sasaka. Mr Mudavadi launched an Economic Stimulus Programme project at the school and later attended an Education Day at Malava Boys. Photo/ISAAC WALE
Posted Friday, June 22 2012 at 23:30
Three presidential aspirants are pitching camp in western Kenya this weekend in their campaigns for State House.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga of ODM, deputy PM Musalia Mudavadi (UDF) and Eugene Wamalwa (New Ford Kenya) will hold rallies in various parts of the region as they return to the campaign trail.
They suspended their campaigns last weekend to attend the burials of Internal Security minister George Saitoti and his assistant Orwa Ojode who died in a plane crash two weeks ago.
Mr Odinga, who returns on Saturday from Russia, will join his team on Sunday in Kisii where it has been camping for three days.
Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo will also be campaigning in the region.
Mr Mudavadi will tour Kisii next week on Thursday.
On Friday, he was in Kakamega county, declaring that the country was in favour of the young generation of leaders to succeed President Kibaki.
Mr Mudavadi said Kenyans had signalled strong intention that they wanted a clean break with the older generation of leaders.
He said he was confident of clinching victory on UDF ticket in the first round.
Mr Mudavadi said he was not worried of facing Mr Odinga.
“I am encouraged by the strong show of support I receive during my campaign rallies and from the look of things, I stand a good chance of beating Mr Odinga in the contest for the presidency,” he said.
Mr Mudavadi spoke in Malava constituency during the District Education Day attended by Housing Minister Soita Shitanda and MPs Boni Khalwale of Ikolomani and Shinyalu’s Justus Kizito.
Mr Kizito said MPs from Western who had failed to back Mr Mudavadi’s bid for presidency would be rejected by voters.
Dr Khalwale said some MPs were deliberately trying to mislead Kenyans about the amendment on the Political Parties Act saying the changes were merely meant to determine qualifications of those seeking to vie for parliamentary positions and that of the governor and senate.
He said the amendments were not meant to tamper with the Constitution as alleged by critics.
In Kisii, the ODM campaign caravan was in Kitutu Chache where 10 MPs said there will be no development without peace.
The team also toured South Mugirango and Bomachoge constituencies.
Public Works Minister Chris Obure said that Mr Odinga is the only presidential candidate who can move the country forward and bring reforms.
RSS