Candidates battle to woo voters as campaigns end

Candidates for the Bungoma Senate seat on Tuesday spent the better part of the day hunting for votes as the curtain fell on campaigns ahead of Thursday’s by-election.

Both the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord), campaigning for former Senator Moses Wetang’ula, and Amani, backing former Webuye MP Musikari Kombo’s bid, made last-ditch efforts to win over voters.

The Cord team was led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka while Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi and former Cabinet minister Eugene Wamalwa led the vote hunt for Mr Kombo.

Independent candidate David Makali and former Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli also campaigned for the seat.

Mr Odinga and Mr Musyoka led more than 30 senators and MPs in drumming up support for Mr Wetang’ula in Sirisia before holding a final rally at the Masinde Muliro Stadium at Kanduyi.

Speaking at the rally, the Cord principals said electing Mr Wetang’ula would enable Cord to continue defending the rights of ordinary Kenyans, which, they claimed, were being trampled upon by the Jubilee Government.

Mr Odinga said Mr Wetang’ula would lead Cord troops in Parliament, while he and Mr Musyoka would do the same from outside.

“Don’t allow them to remove our only leg in Parliament. We are three pillars and we cannot afford to leave our troops in Parliament without a commander,” he said.

Mr Odinga accused the Jubilee administration of failing to govern, citing the high cost of living, interference with the freedom of the Media, and funding for non-governmental organisations. “They will soon take us back to the one party days if they are not stopped,” he said.

Mr Musyoka accused the Jubilee Government of side-lining some Kenyans, dismissing claims by President Kenyatta that his alliance with Deputy President William Ruto will lead for 20 years.

“We refuse to be dragged into tribal politics being perpetuated by the Jubilee leadership. We don’t want Kenyans to be divided along tribal lines,” he said.

Elsewhere the Amani and New Ford-Kenya team campaigning for Mr Kombo tore into the credentials and sincerity of Mr Wetang’ula, saying, his calls for Luhyia unity were not true as his past utterances did not show willingness to be a team player.

“When people were struggling for the Second Liberation, Mr Wetang’ula was busy dining with those opposed to change,” Mr Kombo said while addressing his final rally at Posta Grounds in Bungoma Town.

Accompanied by Mr Mudavadi and Mr Wamalwa among other leaders, the former Cabinet minister said he had been a champion of peace for a long time and called on voters to back his bid.

Mr Mudavadi said other political leaders, in reference to Mr Odinga, should respect other peoples’ political stands.

Mr Makali, who campaigned in Kanduyi, urged voters not to elect leaders who are hiding behind political parties.

“Don’t elect parties or coalitions. Evaluate each candidate before you decide on who to vote for,” he said. The journalist said his competitors were responsible for woes facing Bungoma people.

He called for change in the leadership, adding that if elected, he would transform the county within the shortest time possible.

Mr Wakoli, who did a door-to-door campaign in his Bumula backyard, urged voters to elect him so that he ends the wrangles between Mr Kombo and Mr Wetang’ula.

“Voting for a government-friendly senator can’t bring development. We have had many senior ministers before, but they have given the community a raw deal,” he said.