Coast remains a Cord stronghold, says Raila

Cord leader Raila Odinga greets locals who turned up to welcome him at the Malindi Airport on June 24, 2016, as he began his tour of Kilifi County. He told his opponents that they will suffer yet another political setback in the region in the 2017 General Election. PHOTO | KAZUNGU SAMUEL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • He said the Jubilee coalition has not made him lose sleep over fear of losing control of the region despite its efforts to penetrate it.
  • Raila described Ms Jumwa as a fearless heroine of Kilifi County. He said she was victimised by the State for her firm political stand.

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy leader Raila Odinga has said the Coast region remains his political stronghold.

He said the Jubilee coalition has not made him lose sleep over fear of losing control of the region despite its efforts to penetrate it.

“When I am here, I am at home among my people. We were here three months ago, and based on the Malindi by-election, the situation on the ground has not changed,” he said.

He told his opponents that they will suffer yet another political setback in the region in the 2017 General Election.

“They are the ones who should be worried,” said Mr Odinga.

He was addressing journalists at Diamonds Dream of Africa resort shortly after arriving in Malindi Town on Friday for a two-day tour of Kilifi County.

Mr Odinga landed at Malindi Airport shortly after 10am, accompanied by five Cord lawmakers who were recently arrested and charged with hate speech.

They are Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama, Busia Woman Representative Florence Mutua and her Kilifi counterpart Aisha Jumwa, and MPs Junet Mohammed (Suna East) and Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba).

Mr Odinga, who was also accompanied by Siaya Senator James Orengo, was received by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, Senator Stewart Madzayo and members of the county assembly.

Outside the airport, Mr Odinga addressed his supporters, saying he had brought home Ms Jumwa after her arrest and prosecution for alleged hate speech.

He described her as a fearless heroine of Kilifi County. He said she was victimised by the State for her firm political stand.

“Aisha is here with me and we have come to condemn the inhumane conditions in the cells where she was locked up like a dog,” said Mr Odinga.

The Cord leader later spoke at the Malindi Stadium during a political rally-cum-thanksgiving prayer meeting for the Kilifi Woman Rep.

He accused the Jubilee leadership of using hate speech to intimidate the Opposition over criticism of the government.

“If he (President Uhuru Kenyatta) has not delivered within the three years he has been in power, would he do it now?”