Send Uhuru home for sidelining you, Raila tells Narok

Cord leader Raila Odinga has asked Narok County residents to rally behind the National Super Alliance and vote out Jubilee, accusing it of neglecting the pastoral community.

The opposition chief, while urging Kenyans not to give Jubilee another term in office, accused the government of sidelining the Maasai, citing lack of development and failure to address land issues affecting them.

“Even land matters that have been a thorn in most of the pastoralist counties, this government has refused to address them,” said Mr Odinga.

The Cord leader told more than 1,000 party supporters in Narok that the government condoned corruption, and had failed to honour its pledges to Kenyans.

He spoke when he received Narok North MP Moitalel ole Kenta, who last week quit the ruling coalition to join ODM.

The former premier challenged the President Uhuru Kenyatta-led administration to implement the recommendations of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission.

“The report was released in May 2013, but up to now, the National Assembly is yet to deal with it. Jubilee has less than 10 months to vacate office yet they have not done anything,” he said, adding that if he wins the presidency, he will prioritise the report’s implementation.

“The Maasais have very good reasons to vote against the Jubilee government this year. Jubilee has neglected you and stolen your land through cartels in the government,” Mr Odinga said.

He took on Deputy President William Ruto accusing him of being behind wheat importation cartels in Narok. “You know who is killing wheat farmers economically,” he said.

POOR RESULTS
Mr Odinga said the presence of cartels had resulted in farmers shunning the crop in Narok in favour of imports because the oversupply in the international market has driven down wheat prices by more than 30 per cent since last year.

He also questioned the marking and grading of the 2016 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination calling for an audit and said Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i should be investigated.

“There is no cause of celebrations over KCSE results. How can we have an 85 per cent failure rate in the country? These children were not stupid,” said Mr Odinga.

And speaking about his defection to ODM, Mr Kenta said: I have defected because my people have asked me to stand on the ODM party and that is why I didn’t come to your (Mr Odinga) office to do it there but in front of the people.

"The MP assured Mr Odinga of the Maasai support, saying they support his continued fight for the marginalised in Kenya.

“We are gathered here today to let our people, and the country at large, know that our political destiny is in our own hands and shall from now henceforth not be decided by forces outside of this community,’ said Mr Kenta.

Mr Odinga was accompanied by Kajiado Governor David Nkedianye, Kajiado Central MP Memusi Kanchori, Mbalambala MP Abdikadir Aden, Kanu secretary-general Nick Salat and Narok governorship aspirant Tiampati Musuni.