Campaigns, prayers mark Saba Saba rally

The National Super Alliance on Friday accused the government of deliberately singling out its strongholds as violence hotspots.

During a Saba Saba rally at Kamukunji Grounds in Nairobi, four Nasa leaders said the decision by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission to profile the areas as hotspots would intimidate and disenfranchise opposition supporters.

Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga, his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka and other principals Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula said the Francis ole Kaparo-led NCIC’s move to mark Nasa counties as troublesome was a ploy to steal votes, “which we will not take lying down”.

“The government wants to deploy many security officers to these areas in order to frighten residents on voting day.

"Kaparo does not have the mandate to profile Kenyans. He should see if there is cohesion in the country,” Mr Wetang’ula said.

JOB MARKET
The Bungoma senator told Mr Kaparo and the commission “to stop meddling with the August election”.

“Why is he allowing government agencies to campaign for Jubilee in the guise of doing public work?” he asked.

Mr Odinga said Jubilee was promoting ethnicity through its policies.

“Young people cannot get jobs while thousands of businesses have collapsed because of corruption and cronyism. The country’s wealth is restricted to a few,” the presidential candidate said.

“Let no one assume that he can only prosper by electing a member of his community. I would want nothing more than a legacy which recalls my dream of realising a united nation devoid of hunger and deprivation.”

RULE OF LAW
He added that Saba Saba achievements saw the end of Kanu rule and gave rise to the National Rainbow Coalition government.

“Ruto has no faith in this Constitution. Nasa wants to actualise the dream of our founding fathers,” he said.

Mr Musyoka delved into the killings in Mandera where the opposition team would be visiting next week.

He said the Nasa government would promote and uphold the rule of the law and put systems in place to ensure every Kenyan is treated equally.

FREEDOM FIGHTERS
Mr Odinga promised to compensate heroes of the second liberation if Nasa emerged victorious next month.

He cited his own contribution and those made by Mr Kenneth Matiba, Mr Charles Rubia, Mr James Orengo, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, Mr Koigi Wamwere, his father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Masinde Muliro, Martin Shikuku among others.

“Nasa election win will be the beginning of a new era as we will bring Kenyans together,” he said.

Additional reporting by Stella Cherono.