Cord leader slams Jubilee 'for breaking all its manifesto promises'

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) leader Raila Odinga on Saturday accused the Jubilee government of reneging on its manifesto promises.

Speaking on Saturday in Eldoret town where he made a stop over after holding talks with ODM leaders and farmers from the region, Mr Odinga said the region should be prepared for elections to send Jubilee home.

“The only weapon that Kenyans will use to send the current government home is by applying for national IDs so that they can participate in the forthcoming general elections,” said Mr Odinga.

He added: “When we promised to build computer laboratories for our school going children, they talked about giving the children laptops. As you can see, all these were empty promises.”

Mr Odinga also criticised the ruling coalition for failing to curb corruption in most government institutions.

“All I can say is that in two weeks’ time Kenyans will get to know the intrigues behind the Eurobond saga,” said Odinga amid cheers from the crowd.

He also called upon the Jubilee administration to step up the war on graft by arresting and prosecuting all those facing corruption allegations.

“We can all see that the government has increased taxation rates for even small commodities a clear indication that the government is running bankrupt since they have debts all over. We want all suspects of corruption put behind bars,” the Cord leader added.

He was accompanied by Silvance Osele Onyango (MP Kabondo Kasipul) and David Songok (ODM, Uasin Gishu County chairperson) among others.

MILK FARMERS

Earlier in the day, Mr Odinga challenged the government to revert the once famous Kenya Co-operative Creameries back to farmers.

He said that the former regime temporally repossessed KCC from the hands of corrupt individuals and it was to be returned to farmers.

“Till today, KCC is still under the government. We are saying no to this and we will not allow this to happen as Opposition,” he said.

He said that farmers are suffering because of poor policies, bad management and corruption.

He urged that the government to borrow a leaf from developed countries on how modern agriculture is managed and empower the farmers.

Mr Odinga said that the Okoa Kenya initiative seeks to among other things, devolve the land function to counties since Ardhi House has turned into a den of corruption and land cartels.

He urged Kenyans to support the referendum for the sake of the country.

PLAYING MIND GAMES

Elsewhere, Senate Majority leader Moses Wetang’ula has poked holes into President Uhuru Kenyatta’s commitment to fight graft saying he is merely blinding Kenyans by engaging in a piecemeal approach.

Referring to the Eurobond, Mr Wetang’ula said the government has mastered the art of creating diversionary tactics by playing mind games with Kenyans under the guise of combating corruption.

The Bungoma senator said the graft allegations levelled against him are part of the scheme to shift the attention of Kenyans  from the true state of corruption in government institutions.

“We want the government to furnish Kenyans with answers on mega scandals including the Eurobond, Galana irrigation project, El Nino funds and the Laptop project,” he told mourners during a burial ceremony in Trans Nzoia.

Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa said corruption within the government will slow the country’s economic growth rate and poured cold water on efforts by the government to fight the vice.

“Kenyans have lost confidence in the Jubilee coalition going by recent opinion polls. We challenge the government to tackle the graft menace without sparing some sectors,” said Mr Wamalwa.

Trans Nzoia Senator Henry ole Ndiema called on the special committee formed by the Independent Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on the de-registration of Senator Wetang’ula to ensure justice is served.

“We are challenging the IEBC to ensure that the committee to investigate the senator desists from being compromised to suit “somebody’s interest,” said Mr Ndiema.

An MP also faulted some Luhya leaders for working closely with some Jubilee operatives to curtail Mr Wetang’ula’s political career.

“We know that there are a section of leaders from this community who are behind Mr Wetang’ula’s woes with a hope of curtailing his rising political star,” said Likuyani MP Enoch Kibunguchy while warning them against the machinations.