Nasa rallies supporters in Meru

National Super Alliance (Nasa) leaders will pitch tent in the Meru region for two days to woo voters in the perceived Jubilee stronghold.

Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga will be in Tharaka-Nithi on Friday before moving on to Meru on Saturday.

This will be Mr Odinga’s second tour of the two counties, having received a warm welcome in February.

Opposition point men in the region say Nasa is capitalising on the Jubilee administration’s development gaps.

Former Central Imenti MP Kirugi M’Mukindia said Nasa will peg its campaign on Jubilee’s failure to deliver Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor projects, mega dams, roads and miraa markets, among others.

“Nasa is concerned that the Jubilee government has abandoned Vision 2013 projects that directly touch Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties.

"The Nasa leadership is committed to implementing projects along the Lapsset corridor and open up Northern Kenya which will greatly benefit Meru and Tharaka-Nithi counties,” Mr M’Mukindia said.

'UNFULFILLED' PROMISES

He added, “The Jubilee government has been promising roads and dams, which are yet to be done. We are also assuring the Meru people that a Nasa government will significantly increase devolved funds.”

Addressing the media in Chuka town, Nasa regional campaign coordinator Isaiah Kindiki said the meetings were planned due to "public demand and the following that Mr Odinga enjoys in the region".

He said 6,000 volunteer youths, 10 from each of the 600 polling centres in the county, were going around informing people of the visit.

“Mr Odinga will address issues of marginalisation ... and illustrate how Nasa will transform the region. He will address the collapsed miraa market, coffee and the dairy sector under the watch of President Uhuru Kenyatta, among other pertinent issues,” Prof Kindiki said.

This comes even as Meru Jubilee gubernatorial candidate Kiraitu Murungi downplayed the Nasa visit, saying it wouldn’t affect Jubilee’s popularity.

KIRAITU SCOFFS

Mr Murungi said the opposition leader and his team should be treated as tourists when they visit Meru tomorrow in their vote-hunting mission.

“Mr Odinga has visited this County many times, but he doesn’t get substantial votes here. When he comes, treat him as a tourist.

"He can visit our rivers, mountains and the miraa farms to chew some twigs. Meru votes are preserved for President Uhuru Kenyatta,” said Mr Murungi.

He said Meru County is one of the strongest Jubilee strongholds that the opposition could not penetrate.

The senator laughed off the Nasa coalition, saying it has no future after the elections.

“You have all seen some top leaders in Wiper like Kitui gubernatorial candidate David Musila and Kitui West MP Francis Nyenze have backed President Uhuru Kenyatta for the job he is doing. Nasa will collapse,” said Mr Murungi.

He spoke during campaign rallies in his South Imenti backyard.

Nasa leaders will address rallies in Chuka town, at Chuka University, in Marima, Chogoria, Magutuni, Kathwana, Tunyai and Kibunga in Tharaka-Nithi and later in Nkubu, Meru town, Mikinduri, Maua and Laare in Meru County.

Reporting by David Muchui, Isabel Githae and Alex Njeru