Uhuru Cabinet allies want Raila to remain in the race for State House

Two Cabinet secretaries and four Jubilee MPs have urged Cord leader Raila Odinga to vie for the presidency and not step down for any other candidate.

They spoke as Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula said he would appreciate it if Mr Odinga stepped down for him and supported his presidential bid.

Led by Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri and his Water and Irrigation counterpart Eugene Wamwalwa, the MPs said they want Mr Odinga to vie so that they can have a repeat of the 2013 election.

“Let him not shelve his 2017 presidential ambitions... so that we Jubilee can prove to him what we are made of,” said Mr Kiunjuri after launching irrigation projects worth more than Sh2 billion in Turkana, Pokot and Baringo.

Mr Wamalwa said Jubilee had put in place plans to make sure it recaptures the top seat.

“With the new Jubilee Party, we will make sure we rule again for 15 years consecutively,” the CS said.

With them in the tour were MPs James Lomenen (Turkana-South), Joyce Emanikor (Turkana County MP), Lodere Nakara (Turkana Central) and Philip Rotino (Sigor).

SUPPORT ANOTHER CANDIDATE

At the weekend, Mr Odinga had said he was willing to support another candidate to take on President Uhuru Kenyatta, who will be seeking re-election on a Jubilee ticket. Mr Odinga said he would support another Cord candidate if it is proven that his own candidacy would be an impediment to a Cord victory.

And during a meeting with Ford-Kenya delegates and aspirants at the Nzoia Guest House, Mr Wetang’ula on Sunday said he appreciated Mr Odinga's remarks and asked the Cord leader to back him.

(READ: Talks underway on who Raila will support)

He said leaders from western Kenya had supported Mr Odinga’s bid several times and it was time for him to reciprocate.

“We in western have supported Jaramogi. We have supported his son three times and it is now time for him to reciprocate by supporting one of us,” he said.

Mr Wetang’ula said there was no bad blood between him and the other leaders in Cord and said the competition in the coalition was healthy.

He further stated that recent polls showed that he and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka had the same chance as Mr Odinga in an election.

According to him, there were high-level talks to determine who Mr Odinga should support.

Mr Wetang’ula criticised Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka's move to dissolve New Ford-Kenya, the party he heads, and which has resolved to merge with others to form Jubilee.

CHEAP PROPAGANDA

“Some people closed their party and said that they were doing so because they thought that Wetang’ula is running to Jubilee. That is cheap propaganda. I am firmly in Cord,” said Mr Wetang’ula, who is also the Senate minority leader.

He also faulted President Kenyatta’s scheduled tour of western Kenya later in the month, saying the move was only meant to hoodwink voters in the region.

“It is said President Kenyatta will come to launch [the] Chwele Lwakhakha road. How many times will a road be commissioned. These are just empty promises,” Mr Wetang’ula said.

Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi supported Mr Wetang’ula’s presidential ambition.

“We want to ensure that Wetang’ula actualises his dream. Some are saying that he should come and vie for a county seat. That is not acceptable,” said the MP.

In the Rift Valley, Mr Kiunjuri urged the Turkana community to vote for the re-election of President Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto.

He also urged the government to put in place measures to ensure that new election commissioners are hired within two months.

“We should now not start another wave of bad politics since we have agreed on the removal of the IEBC team,” he said.

Mr Kiunjuri and Mr Wamalwa said the government had great plans for communities living in the North Rift. They promised to expand all irrigation schemes in the region and tarmac the 298km Kitale-Lodwar road.

The four MPs pledged to back Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto.

“Jubilee has done a lot to us and now our youths and women are the great beneficiaries to these projects. Why should we not vote the two as a sign of showing gratitude?” asked Mr Nakara.