President Kenyatta condemns chaotic Nasa demos
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto address a Jubilee rally in Meru Town, Meru County, on October 6, 2017. They said the Nasa protests are hurting the economy. PHOTO | PSCU
What you need to know:
- They urged their supporters in Meru to turn out in large numbers on October 26 and vote for them.
- He said his administration is addressing insecurity in the area bordering Isiolo County by deploying 300 police officers.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto returned to Meru on Friday from where they told off the Opposition for maintaining a hardline stance on the repeat presidential election.
The Jubilee leaders criticised Nasa for its conditions to the electoral commission on the poll, saying the coalition was out to sabotage the economy.
LOOTING
Addressing rallies in Laare, Maua and Meru towns, President Kenyatta condemned the protests fronted by Nasa that have in some places, such as in Kisumu on Friday, led to looting and destruction of property.
“They are free to demonstrate, but the looting experienced in Kisumu is unacceptable.
"By making noise every day, Nasa is sabotaging the economy. Do not let the personal interests defeat the interests of Kenyans. Mr (Raila) Odinga should own up and campaign like we are doing,” he said.
CHALLENGE
In the Jubilee leadership’s company were hitherto bitter rivals, Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi and his predecessor Peter Munya who came together in a rare show of unity to rally support for President Kenyatta’s re-election on October 26.
Mr Ruto hit out at the opposition leadership saying calls for demonstrations, twice a week, were an indication Mr Odinga was not ready for the poll as directed by the Supreme Court.
“Mr Odinga is busy planning demonstrations to sabotage the economy. We are ready for the election.
"We won by a margin of [about] 1.4 million but on the repeat election, we will win by four million votes,” the DP, who challenged the Nasa team to stop the protests and prepare for the upcoming election, said.
VOTERS
But he insisted that Jubilee would not be stopped from amending the election laws in Parliament.
“If you are opposed to everything about the election, you are not a democrat of any kind. That is dictatorship. If Mr Odinga is a democrat, he should face us in the election where the will of the people is expressed,” he said.
In all their rallies, the President and Mr Ruto urged their supporters in Meru to turn out in large numbers on October 26 and vote to ensure that they beat the Nasa candidate with a wider margin.
In a show of solidarity, the county’s elected leaders led by Mr Murungi and those who lost in the August 8 General Election, among them Mr Munya, received the President at Laare.
DEFECTORS
President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto lauded the unity of Meru residents and leaders, promising to give jobs to those who lost in the elections should he be re-elected.
At Muthara, Mr Munya’s home turf, the President received Mr Mike Mutembei, who had been Nasa’s Meru pointman, and other opposition supporters who ditched Mr Odinga’s camp for Jubilee.
The leaders also addressed several roadside rallies in Igembe and Tigania.
“I urge Mr Munya and Mr Murungi to meet and resolve their differences. I am ready to chair the talks to see them work together,” Mr Kenyatta said.
SECURITY
He said his administration is addressing insecurity in the area bordering Isiolo County by deploying 300 police officers.
“We are also hiring 200 national police reservists to help beef up security in the grazing areas of Igembe and Tigania,” the President said.
Jubilee’s focus was on improving infrastructure, health, water and security in Meru after the election, the DP said.
Mr Murungi said: “We want to cast the vote to the last man. We expect more than 600,000 voters will turn out to vote from Mr Kenyatta.”
