‘Reds’ in 2012 pledge to woo votes

The 2012 presidential election dominated the ‘No’ team’s campaign rally in Emuhaya at the weekend.

Three Rift Valley MPs said voters in the vast province would support a presidential candidate from Western if the latter helped to shoot down the proposed constitution.

“You have been number two for many years in leadership and once you assist in defeating this draft be assured that we will be ready to extend our support for your presidential candidate when 2012 comes,” said Mosop MP David Koech.

He was supported by Mr Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu) and Mr Elija Langat (Emgwen), who asked the residents not to be “misled” by politicians championing the ‘Yes’ campaign in the region.

“You know this seat (presidency) rotates around and when it comes we will support you, so do not worry. Use your numbers to shoot down this proposed constitution,” said Mr Ruto.

Mr Cyrus Jirongo, the only Western MP who is openly in the ‘No’ camp, and the perceived beneficiary of the 2012 vote, said he was ready to go for the State House job.

“Those who are telling you that we pass the constitution and amend it later will be nowhere. President Kibaki will have retired and the Prime Minister (Raila Odinga) will be a walkover,” said Mr Jirongo.

He accused Western MPs of following the President and PM blindly. “In Kisii, it’s ‘No’, Kuria is ‘No’. It is only in Luo Nyanza that ‘Yes’ is strong and it is because one person thinks on behalf of the community and I fear that disease is spreading to Western Province,” the Lugari MP said.

Chepalungu’s Ruto asked voters to help them defeat the proposed constitution so that they can amend it and pass it before the end of the year. Mr Ruto warned residents in the region that they would suffer as they had been short-changed in the allocation of counties.

“It will be hard for you to get government services at your doorstep as the provincial administration will be abolished,” he claimed. The MPs were speaking at Esibuye in Emuhaya constituency.