Cord, Jubilee lock horns in Kajiado

Deputy President William Ruto and Cord principal Kalonzo Musyoka led their sides in drumming up support for their candidates ahead of the Kajiado Central by-election on March 16.

Mr Ruto led thousands of supporters to the home of Mr Anthony Kiroken who stepped down for JAP candidate Patrick Tutui in Enkorika where he asked residents to vote for him.

A few kilometres away, Mr Musyoka held a rally to drum up support for Mr Elijah Memusi, Cord’s flag-bearer.

The DP noted that the government had done a lot already to improve the lives of Kenyans and would still do more.

“Within the first five years, for instance, we want to increase production of power by 300 per cent. We have also set aside Sh38 billion to build referral hospitals across the country,” he said.

“The government has also increased allocation to the free primary education by 35 per cent, raising the figure from Sh28 billion to Sh40 billion.”
“We are asking you to vote for Mr Tutui on March 16 because we will need him to implement government plans here.”

Mr Ruto, who praised Mr Kiroken for remaining in Jubilee after standing down for Mr Tutui, said the government would offer jobs to Kajiado residents.

“This seat fell vacant because we gave Maj Gen (Joseph) Nkaissery a job as a Cabinet secretary. We believe in Nkaissery and we urge you to give Tutui a chance to join him so that together, we can bring more development,” said Mr Ruto.

Mr Kiroken is now working with the Water Board of Kenya.

ONLY MAKING NOISE

The DP said Cord was only making noise but had nothing to offer locals.

And just a few kilometres away at Enkorika trading centre, Mr Musyoka accused the government of plans to rig the polls.

“Pictures have surfaced on the Internet of ballot papers bearing images resembling the candidates. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) should tell us if it has already printed the ballot papers,” he said.

“We are warning IEBC that there will be consequences if this by-election is mishandled,” added Mr Musyoka.

Meanwhile, Mr Musyoka continued to pile pressure on IEBC officials to leave office after they were adversely mentioned in corruption claims involving a British printing company in what has come to be known as the “chicken” scandal.

“The whole world now knows that they cannot conduct free and fair elections after the bribery claims. The fact that some people have been jailed in relation to the scandal discredits them,” he added.

“We are aware of plans to bribe voters among other means of manipulating the outcome, but we are prepared with counter-measures,” added the former Vice-President and Wiper leader.

Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior warned chiefs against using state resources to campaign for JAP candidate.

Mr Musyoka was with MPs Daniel Maanzo (Makueni), Robert Mbui (Kathiani) and Makali Mulu (Kitui Central).
Mr Memusi claimed the government offered him a job to step down but he declined.